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Commission imposes 18‑month demolition delay on proposed teardown at 55 Bank Street
Summary
The Harwich Historic District & Historical Commission voted to impose an 18‑month demolition delay for the full demolition proposal at 55 Bank Street after hearing competing evidence about the building’s age and altered condition.
The Harwich Historic District & Historical Commission voted June 17 to impose an 18‑month demolition delay on a proposal to fully demolish the dwelling at 55 Bank Street, a property listed on the town’s historic property inventory.
Attorney Mike Ford, counsel for the owner 55 Bank LLC, told the commission the structure meets the 100‑year threshold but argued it does not satisfy the bylaw’s significance tests: “we do not believe it meets the historical significance standard,” he said, and requested a determination of non‑significance under section 13110. Architect John Barker presented archival photos, permit records and on‑site observations, describing an original core partly “swallowed up by a series of additions, renovations, modifications” and showing modern siding, dormer work, and interior framing changes.
Commission members and public commenters disagreed over the building’s historic value. Commissioner Brendan said the Bank Street elevation retains public‑facing architectural value, while public commenter Dunan Barry West cited multiple historic maps — the Sanborn 1916 map, Walker 1906 and Walling 1858 — as evidence the site is older and merits further research. The commission said a 2015 town survey claims certain dates but the full evidence was not available in the applicant’s foyer request responses.
After discussion, Commissioner Brendan moved to find demolition would “essentially diminish the historic value” and to impose the maximum 18‑month demolition delay; the motion carried and the commission encouraged the owner to return with plans during the delay period. The commission recorded no special conditions beyond an invitation to submit replacement plans and noted staff should preserve any survey records requested during the review.
Next steps: the delay window begins June 17; the commission said it will consider any plans or further evidence submitted during the period before deciding whether to lift or extend restrictions.
