Worcester Historical Commission approves multiple demolition-delay waivers, a certificate and letters of support

The Worcester Historical Commission on Aug. 7 voted on a series of building demolition delay waivers and related preservation actions for properties across the city.

Votes at a glance

- 7 Pit Street — Building demo delay waiver approved. The commission found that replacing existing enclosed porches with a wooden open railing system would "not be detrimental to the historical or architectural resources of the city of Worcester." Vote: unanimous (roll call recorded as all voting members present voting yes).

- 33 Cheever Street — Building demo delay waiver approved to enclose a door and create an accessory dwelling unit connection. Vote: unanimous.

- 159 Cambridge Street — Building demo delay waiver approved for a fire-damaged house. The commission approved removal and infill of rear sliding doors and related window infill, with the requirement that the left-side stair landings include small, static "deadlight" or awning-style windows at each stair landing as shown on the plans. The decision also covered porch reconstruction and facade column alterations tied to restoration after fire damage. Vote: unanimous.

- 3 Decatur Street — Retroactive building demo delay waiver granted for enclosed front porches with conditions. The commission approved replacing the Second- and Third-Floor front openings with six new windows to match existing front windows and required an arched top on the First-Floor side window to reflect the historical opening. The motion passed 6–1; Chair Diane Long cast the lone no vote.

- 14 Oxford Street (Crown Hill Historic District) — Certificate of appropriateness and demo-delay waiver approved to remove a failing shed and replace it with a new shed to match house color; the commission specified the replacement shed color should match the house. Vote: unanimous.

- Pell, Inc. letters of support — The commission voted to update and supply letters of support for Pell Inc.'s historic-rehab tax-credit applications for several properties (Haywood Boot and Shoe, Howe and Lessie Morgan House, Slater Building, Taylor Farley Organ Factory, Worcester Boys Club). Vote: unanimous.

- 36 Butler Street (confirmatory vote) — Commissioners took a confirmatory vote to approve ongoing construction and restoration activities at 36 Butler Street after staff reported substantial historic material uncovered and a restoration plan; the motion passed unanimously.

Each of the waivers and certificates included brief staff presentations and public comment where relevant. Commissioners occasionally requested clarifying changes be written into decisions — for example, the 159 Cambridge approval explicitly describes required deadlights at stair landings and the 3 Decatur decision required preservation of the Third-Floor arch detail in the written decision. Decisions were recorded as roll-call votes when made.

What this means: property owners at the approved addresses may proceed with the work required to obtain city permits, subject to the conditions the commission wrote into its findings and the normal building-permit process. The commission also signaled it will continue to review details and write the specific conditions into the formal decisions that will be published with the meeting minutes.