National Grid attorneys and their structural engineer told the Nantucket Historic District Commission on Jan. 14 that the brick building at 10 New Wales Street is in very poor condition and likely should be demolished.

The HDC voted to hold its minimum-maintenance review and await a formal demolition application and advice from town counsel before taking action.

The applicant's attorney, Arthur Reed, said the building dates from about 1927 and “is unquestionably in a very poor condition” and cited a fire department letter recommending demolition. Structural engineer Peter Reynolds of Mackenzie Engineering described porous, weathered brick, powdery mortar inside the walls and foundation settlement that has caused a southeast corner to rotate and be “in danger of collapse.” Reynolds said the roof is rotted and that the interior second level is not a usable floor and would likely fail if someone went up.

Reed said National Grid previously filed and then withdrew a demolition application while addressing a public complaint; he told the commission a new demolition application was filed “yesterday” and that the applicant is arranging an electronic scan to create a permanent record of the building.

Commission members asked technical and procedural questions about alternatives, whether the HDC can require an independent restoration assessment and who would pay for it, and whether engineering or preservation experts could document rehabilitation feasibility. Reynolds said he was retained only to assess present structural condition and that questions about historical evolution or specialized preservation methods would be outside the scope of his engagement.

The commission’s chair proposed — and members voted unanimously — to hold the minimum-maintenance matter pending receipt of the demolition application and a written opinion from town counsel clarifying the HDC’s options under the town’s minimum-maintenance standard. The vote was taken by voice; the chair called the roll and recorded five ayes.

What happens next: National Grid will appear again after filing materials for the demolition application. The firm said it will provide scans and construction documentation. The HDC’s action was procedural: the commission did not approve or deny demolition or take final regulatory action on minimum-maintenance at the Jan. 14 meeting.

Why it matters: The commission described itself as a quasi‑judicial body; the decision affects an aging industrial-era building on a downtown lot and could lead to demolition, documentation requirements, or preservation questions that intersect with public safety and the town’s regulatory authority.