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Newton 311 Services

Citywide Historic Resources Studies

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Newton Architectural Survey, 1940 to 1972

Project Goals

To preserve and protect Newton's mid-twentieth century historic resources by undertaking a new survey of approximately 140 properties constructed between 1940 and 1972.

Funding:

$17,500 CPA Funding (Requested)

$17,500 Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey and Planning Grant Program (Anticipated)

$35,000 TOTAL PROJECT COST

Contacts

Valerie Birmingham, Chief Preservation Planner
Planning & Development Department
City of Newton
1000 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton, MA 02459
vbirmingham@newtonma.gov
617-796-1143

Barbara Kurze, Senior Preservation Planner
Planning & Development Department
City of Newton
1000 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton, MA 02459
bkurze@newtonma.gov
617-796-1129

Funding Process

November 26, 2021 - Pre-Proposal submitted for CPC review at their next meeting on Tuesday, December 14. Additional Materials submitted at this time include the following:

December 17, 2021 - Full Proposal submitted for CPC review on January 11, 2022.

January 10, 2022 - Letters of Support received from Newton Historical Commission and Planning Department

January 11, 2022 - Public Hearing and Project Presentation on proposal followed by CPC unanimous vote to recommend full funding of the project.

January 24, 2022 - CPC Funding Recommendation sent to City Council for their review and approval.

February 22, 2022 - City Council Order approves project funding.

Past Projects

Goals

Studies, inventories, and plans to set priorities and guide decisions for the preservation of historic buildings and sites throughout the City of Newton.

Projects

For details of these projects, see the sections below.

Archaeology Survey

Goals

To guide future preservation and funding decisions, use above-ground data and ground-penetrating radar to identify probable archaeological resources in Newton.

Funding

$37,750

CPA funds

Additional support contributed by the Planning & Development Dept. (RFP for and oversight of consultant).

Funding Process

5 December 2008 - Proposal
January-February 2009 - Letters of support
14 January 2009 - Presentation at public hearing
9 March 2009 - CPC funding recommendation
April-May 2009 - Additional letters, including descriptions from other communities of how they have used such surveys
15 June 2009 - Board order (appropriation)

Project News

15 October 2009 - Newton Archaeological Survey request for proposals
24 May 2010 - Newton Archaeological Survey contract
March 2011 - Ground-penetrating Radar (GPR) Survey of East Parish Burying Ground & adjacent Loring Park
- GPR is used by archaeologists to identify potential archaeological resources without excavation. See also the page for Newton's Historic Burying Grounds.
6 December 2011 - Archaeology Survey final summary slide show to CPC (This large file may load slowly.)

Final Reports

Newton Archaeological Reconnaissance Survey: Public Education Report (Some files below are large & may load slowly)

Note: The full, final technical report of this survey is in the permanent files of the Newton Planning & Development Department, which will use it in recommending measures to mitigate possible negative impacts on archaeological resources from proposed development or other activities.

City Historic Buildings Survey

Goals

Identify the City's most historically significant public buildings, evaluate their significant features, and make recommendations for their preservation, rehabilitation, and adaptive re-use, within the context of the City's overall Capital Needs Assessment.

Funding

$98,780	CP funds appropriated (historic resources)
$395,000	City of Newton Overlay Surplus Reserve Account
$20,000	CDBG (federal funds, for accessibility assessments)
$513,780	Total Cost for City Capital Needs Assessment

Funding Process

7 January 2011 - Pre-proposal
28 January 2011-18 March 2011 - Proposal, public hearing presentation (incl. photos) and letters of support
4 March 2011 - CPC funding recommendation
21 March 2011 - Board order (appropriation)

Project News

April 2012 - Phase 1 Report: Phase 1 was a brief survey of all City buildings, with rankings & recommendations for further, in-depth assessment of certain buildings. These long files may load slowly:
- Part 1
- Part 2
April 2012 - Phase 2 Final Reports for all individual buildings assessed (on Public Buildings Dept. webpages) include:

Early Architecture Surveys: to 1870

Goals:

Correct and expand existing partial surveys of Newton's earliest buildings, to guide regulatory preservation, including the demolition delay, as well as future decisions about preservation funding. Some significant early buildings have been lost since previous surveys were done; and the City's current information about many of its oldest buildings is either inaccurate or inadequate.

This project is ongoing; as more early buildings are discovered or as buildings from one period are completed, the Planning Dept. is applying for state funds to survey additional buildings or expand the survey to the next period. CPA funds were originally appropriated only for the first phase, covering buildings constructed up to 1840.

Funding:

$37,500	CPA funds appropriated (historic resources)
$63,500	Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey & Planning Grants
$14,000	Est. value of contributed services by Newton Planning Dept.
$115,000	Total Cost to Date

Funding Process:

14 October 2010 - Proposal & letters of support
17 November 2010 - Public hearing presentation
25 January 2011 - CPC funding recommendation
21 March 2011 - Board Order (appropriation)

Project News:

April 2011 - $16,700 Massachusetts Historical Commission grant awarded for pre-1830 survey
December 2011 - Work on the pre-1830 survey revealed that the City had an estimated 400 remaining buildings from 1830-1850, rather than the 140 originally estimated for 1830-1840.
March 2012 - $15,000 Massachusetts Historical Commission grant awarded, on condition that the project cover the full period 1830-1850.
August 2012 - RFP for consulting services; contract awarded to Larson Fisher Associates to survey the first 150 buildings. Planning staff is seeking additional MHC funds to survey another 100 buildings.
14 April 2016 - Project report to the CPC, including photos of some of Newton's earliest homes dated & documented through this project

Heritage Landscapes Report & Inventory

Goals

Identify and evaluate historic public landscapes and streetscapes throughout the City, to inform management, preservation, and funding priorities for these resources.

Funding

$5,250	CPA funds - historic resources
$2,625	CPA funds - open space
$2,625	CPA funds - recreation land
$10,500	Total Project Cost

Additional staff time for RFP and consultant oversight provided by the Planning & Development Department.

Funding Process

5 December 2007 - Proposal
4 April 2008 - CPC funding recommendation
22 April 2008 - Board order (appropriation)

Project News

Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation & Recreation Heritage Landscapes Program
June 2008 - Request for consultants' qualifications for Newton report
August 2008 - Project summary (flyer) for Newton
September 2008 - Schedule & handout for community meetings in Newton
30 April 2009 - Final Reports
- Heritage Landscapes Final Report (methodology, framework, conclusions)
- Heritage Landscapes Inventory (detailed list, last updated 30 April 2015)
- Map of Newton's Heritage Landscapes (for final report)

Historic Preservation Design Guidelines

Goals

Create guidelines to assist the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) and the Newton Historical Commission (NHC) in evaluating the eligibility of proposals for funding as required under the Community Preservation Act; and to assist proposal sponsors in meeting the Newton CPC's requirement to apply federal standards in establishing significance, identifying significant features, and choosing appropriate treatments for historic buildings. The guidelines will use Newton-specific examples to illustrate both appropriate and inappropriate changes to historic buildings, by style and period.

The Newton Historical Commission served as the project manager in finding additional required matching funds, in hiring and overseeing a qualified consultant, and in leading adoption of these guidelines by both the NHC and Newton's local historic district commissions, to promote consistency between CPC funding recommendations and the City's regulatory decisions.

Funding

$12,000	Newton CPC administrative funds
$15,000	Massachusetts Historical Commission grant
$27,000	Total Project Cost

Funding Process

14 October 2009 - Original proposal
18 November 2009 - Project presentation (incl. photos)
17 June 2010 - Administrative funding request
7 September 2010 - Commitment of Newton CPC administrative funding
15 March 2011 - Massachusetts Historical Commission grant
Spring 2012 - Final guidelines (under "Reports & Studies" on Historic Preservation webpages of the Newton Planning & Development Department)

Local Historic Districts Signage

Goals

Preserve the historic fabric of the Newton Upper Falls and Newtonville local historic districts by installing small outdoor signs to increase public awareness of these districts and their boundaries. Design will be consistent with signs that already designate the Chestnut Hill local historic district.

Funding

$2,000

CPA funds - historic resources

Funding Process

3 November 2003 - Proposal
28 January 2004 - CPC funding recommendation
15 March 2004 - Board order (appropriation)

Newton Highlands Local Historic District Survey

Goals

Demarcate and justify a new local historic district in Newton Highlands, in compliance with Newton's local ordinances and applicable state laws.

No full proposal submitted, so this project was not funded.

Potential Funding

$20,000	CPA request estimated in pre-proposal; in the end, other sources below were increased enough to eliminate any need for CPA funding
$1,000	Newton Highlands Area Council contribution
$1,200	Community fundraising
$4,000	Value of contributed volunteer hours
$26,200	Total Project Cost