Needham historical commission finds 430 Grove Street a historic asset, sets public‑hearing timeline

The Needham Historical Commission on June 16 voted unanimously that the house at 430 Grove Street is a historic asset, starting the procedural clock for a public hearing under the town’s demolition‑review bylaw.

The vote begins a process that requires the owner or builder to file a demolition plan with the town building department and submit seven copies to the commission. Once the demolition plan is received, the commission has up to 45 days to schedule a public hearing; abutters within 300 feet must be notified and the meeting must be posted in a newspaper for two consecutive weeks. If warranted after the public hearing, the commission may consider imposing the bylaw’s six‑month demolition delay.

Owner Dominic Calasacco, who said he purchased the property late last year after living next door for about 25 years, told the commission the house has “fallen into total disrepair” following decades of deferred maintenance, periods of vacancy and water intrusion. “The house really doesn't resemble what it was,” Calasacco said.

Commission leadership noted that the property already appears on the town’s inventory of historic resources. The chair said, "the fact that the house is on the Needham inventory means that by definition it is an historic asset to the town, but that does not mean that the decision we're going to make tonight is a foregone conclusion," and emphasized that structural condition and feasibility of preservation will be considered at the forthcoming public hearing.

Commissioner Jeffrey Heller, who visited the property with other members, described the foundation and major structural elements as sound, noting the house contains multiple later additions that make it hard to identify the original core. Heller said while there were signs of water staining in places, "the foundation in that basement [is] all the way through" and the joists were generally in good condition.

After brief discussion the commission moved that it finds 430 Grove Street to be a historic asset. The motion was seconded and approved by roll call; all votes were recorded as "aye." The chair said the commission will schedule the detailed public hearing once the building commissioner and town staff confirm the demolition plan paperwork is complete.

Next steps for the owner are to contact the town building department to confirm the required demolition‑plan contents, file the plan so the town manager’s office can accept it and notify the commission, and then await the commission’s public‑hearing scheduling. The commission said the 45‑day scheduling period is the maximum allowed and that, in practice, scheduling may take a minimum of about four weeks to satisfy public‑notice requirements during the summer calendar.

The commission’s decision at this meeting was limited to the question of whether the property is a historic asset; detailed findings about what parts of the structure are historically significant, and whether a demolition moratorium should be imposed, will be addressed at the upcoming public hearing.