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Howard Street National Register effort stalled; commission may seek new consultant or CPA funds
Summary
The commission says a CPA-funded Howard Street nomination is only half complete; the current consultant will re-review the work but the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s response makes completion uncertain. The commission may seek a new consultant or additional CPA funding.
The Northborough Historic District Commission said Feb. 18 that the CPA-funded effort to nominate the Howard Street site to the National Register of Historic Places is about half finished and has stalled while the consultant revisits the submission.
Chair Bob Light told the commission the consultant has invoiced $3,500 of a $7,000 project and "she's going to be relooking at the project" to "figure out a path to completion," pending guidance or a definitive determination from the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Light identified the consultant for the minutes as Lisa Mausoff.
The commission said the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s initial review makes completion "ambitious," and that, depending on the state review, the town may need to hire a different consultant to finish the nomination or request additional CPA funding next year. No formal vote on new funding was taken at the meeting.
Why it matters: a completed National Register nomination can make a property eligible for a wider set of grants and technical resources; the commission noted a nomination does not by itself prevent changes to a property and that other preservation tools may be needed to secure long-term protections.
Next steps: the commission will seek clarification from the consultant about the historical commission’s feedback, report back next month, and consider whether to apply for CPA funds or authorize a new consultant to complete the nomination. The 35 Whitney Street nomination remains on a separate, near-term track and is scheduled for review by the Massachusetts Historical Commission on March 11.
