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Commission finds possible adverse effect to historic foundation on Willow Street, votes to send Section 106 letter
Summary
After staff and commissioners identified a potentially historic foundation on a Willow Street parcel, the commission voted to send a Section 106 advisory letter asserting that removal of the foundation could cause an adverse effect and asking the reviewing agency to reconsider the 'NA' rehabilitation designation.
The Springfield Commission voted May 7 to send a Section 106 advisory letter asserting that a concrete foundation and related historic fabric on a Willow Street parcel should not have been marked "NA" for rehabilitation in the applicant’s submission and that removal could constitute an adverse effect.
Commission staff and several commissioners noted that the application listed "NA" for rehabilitation but that surviving concrete foundation walls and railing appear to be remnants of a prior structure and possibly historic fabric. "The foundation wall that is shown with the railing on it is, in fact, historic," a commissioner said during discussion. Staff and commissioners agreed the commission should notify the reviewing agency of the apparent inconsistency.
The commission moved to send a letter to the reviewing agency (EHA as the transcript records) advising that the foundation wall is historic fabric and recommending the project be evaluated under Section 106 procedures. The motion passed after a second, and the commission asked staff to draft the letter documenting the observed fabric and the potential for an adverse effect.
Commissioners emphasized the motion was a procedural finding to inform the federal/state reviewer and to ensure compliance with historic-preservation review; it did not itself stop the project but asked the reviewing authority to reassess the application materials.
