The Norwich Historic District Commission unanimously approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition of a fire-damaged property at Otis Street on Dec. 17, 2025, after a public hearing in which the applicant and contractors described structural failure and hazardous conditions.

The commission
s chair, Regan Minor, opened the public hearing at 5:32 p.m. and said the application (COA 59937) was before the commission because the property lies in the Little Plains Historic District. The applicant, identified only as Gabriel, said the building suffered a fire in April and that an architect and structural engineer had concluded the structure was unsafe and needed to be demolished. "I had a fire, this year in April, whereas I lost some lives," Gabriel said, explaining his request to remove the building.

Minor told the applicant she had reviewed a memo from CLA Engineers that described the property as structurally unsound and said the fire marshal had "requested that people do not enter the premises because of the concern over the structural integrity of the property." The chair also offered to connect the applicant with preservationists if any historic fabric (for example, porch spindles) could be salvaged and said she would forward information about a state tax-credit program that could support rebuilding.

Dan Jenkins, who identified himself as a local business owner and contractor assisting Gabriel, described the interior conditions and mold concerns. "Every single piece of wood on that property is mold infested," Jenkins said, adding that multiple contractors, engineers and mold specialists had inspected the structure and recommended removal.

Minor explained that if the commission approved demolition, the applicant would need to secure a demolition permit from the city building department and that Chris Berger was serving as the interim building official following the departure of Dan Cooley. She told Gabriel the commission would forward its decision to the building department and that applicants receive written notification by the next business day.

After brief discussion, a motion was made to approve the COA "as submitted and presented." The chair conducted a roll-call vote; members identified in roll call as Ed, Sean, Nancy, Greg, Megan and Chair Regan Minor voted in favor. "The motion passes unanimously," Minor said, and added she would follow up with the applicant.

The commission
s action grants permission to proceed to the next step of securing required building-department permits; any new construction on the site would return to the Historic District Commission for review.

The commission adjourned the public-hearing portion of the meeting and moved on to regular business after the vote.