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Historic commission approves demolition plan for 26 Oakley Street but requires front porch remain
Summary
The Newburyport Historic Commission voted Feb. 25 to lift a one‑year demolition delay for a mid‑19th‑century house to allow a rear bedroom addition and other work, but approved the plan only on condition that the existing front porch remain unchanged; the commission earlier found the structure historically significant.
The Newburyport Historic Commission voted Feb. 25 to approve a demolition plan for the house variously recorded in the meeting record as 26 Open/South Long/Oakley/Oakland Street, allowing the owner to proceed with a rear bedroom addition and other repairs while requiring that the existing front porch remain as‑is.
The commission first voted that the structure is "historically significant and should be considered for preservation," a finding chair Amir recorded after commissioners reviewed materials showing a side‑hall Italianate form with some original elements such as the front door. The board then reviewed detailed plans showing window replacement, reconstruction of porch elements and a second‑floor addition. After an extended technical exchange about whether the porch posts and balusters are original or later replacements, the commission crafted a conditional approval that lifted the one‑year demolition delay only if the front porch would remain in place.
"It is absolutely critical that we get this back condition," Amir said during final discussion, stressing the commission's interest in stabilizing the home while preserving notable features. Several commissioners and a member of the public urged careful treatment of the projecting bay window, which a commenter described as an early and prominent feature that would be obscured if the porch were built out.
The motion to approve the demolition plan and lift the delay with the exception to leave the current front porch passed with affirmative votes recorded for Scott, Alan Marti, Ed, Glenn Richards, Chris Sautel and the chair. Earlier in the meeting the commission had voted that the building should be considered historically significant, which triggered the deliberations and conditional approval.
The commission also discussed next procedural steps: the zoning board still must grant any required special permit for nonconforming setbacks, and the lift of the demo delay is contingent on the commission's final sign‑off on agreed plans. The record contains inconsistent transcriptions of the property address; commissioners and applicants should confirm the official parcel ID in subsequent filings.
