Historic District Commission denies move‑off application for 117 Orange Street

The Nantucket Historic District Commission on Tuesday denied an application to move off a connector addition at 117 Orange Street, a structure commissioners said contributes to the street’s historic character.

Commissioners said the small, roughly 100‑year‑old connector between the house’s main block and a later addition is part of the old streetscape and should be retained. Preservation Planner Holly (staff) told the commission the connector appears on historic Sanborn maps and that the application, as submitted, proposed removal rather than retention or documented move‑off. Holly recommended either keeping the connector in place or treating it as part of a formal move‑off rather than demolishing it.

Members of the Historic Structures Advisory Group and several commissioners said the connector and the adjoining 19‑thirties addition form an established streetscape that would be harmed by removal. Mickey Roland of the advisory group told the commission the connector is “part of the historic fabric in the neighborhood” and that replacing it with a parking area would change the character of the street. Multiple commissioners echoed those concerns and pointed to the building’s long presence as an important visual anchor on that section of Orange Street.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to deny the move‑off. The motion to deny was seconded and carried. Commissioners instructed staff to draft a denial that records the historic value and streetscape concerns the board cited. Commissioners also noted the denial affects several related filings: the applicant’s proposed hardscape for 117 Orange and a new building at 1 Cherry Street were interrelated with the move‑off application and were therefore held pending the applicant’s decision about how to proceed. At the meeting the commission recorded the denial and held associated applications so the applicant can revise plans or seek other relief.

The action does not change whether the applicant may pursue other administrative or legal remedies off‑calendar; the commission’s vote simply denied the specific move‑off application before it. The record shows the commission asked staff to prepare written findings documenting why the board found the connector a contributing element to the streetscape and why removal was not approvable as proposed.

If the applicant returns with revised plans (for example retaining the connector, relocating it intact, or significantly redesigning the new hardscape and building), the board said it will consider those proposals at a future meeting.