What has happened so far:
When developers want to demolish any buildings over 75 years old, it needs to be reviewed by the historical commission to determine if the site has any historic value to the city, and if so, the commission can delay the demo for 6 months. In this time, it allows the developer and city to come up with alternative plans, preserving history.
A demolition delay is not intended to punish the developer, but rather it provides an opportunity for the Historical Commission to work with the owner to determine if the building can be saved. A recent success story involves the 1812 House on Salem End Road, which Framingham State University opted to sensitively rehabilitate.
On November 30, 2022, the following application was filed with the city.
In early December 2022, on the agenda for the Historical Commission, under demolition delay discussion, we noticed an address near and dear to our hearts, 818 Waverley St. It had been proposed that the building which houses TJ’s Neighborhood Market was to be demolished.
Nobody really reads the agendas for this commission, and attendance at these meetings is usually minimal. Therefore had we not noticed this agenda item and publicized, it could have happened with nobody knowing. Had that have happened, it is likely, that approval for the site to be demolished could have happened with nobody standing up against the proposal, and that the demo could be already underway.
Often times the building owners don’t even tell the businesses leasing from them the plan. For example, the hair studio on rt. 9 who learned from FU, the plan to raze their building for a new pot shop. Or more recently, Seabra’s Market and the other businesses in the plaza, they too learned from FU a plan for a mega apartment building.
We hate to be the bearer of bad news… TJ’s Neighborhood Market, also learned from FU, that their building was to be razed, and that their own future was uncertain.
We made a post, dozens of shares, and hundreds of angry posts later, on December 14th, at the meeting to discuss the demolition of the building, the developer withdrew their request.
In their letter, the developers citied their desire to withdraw their request, until a time after they were able to share their plans with the neighborhood, via the Coburnville Tripoli Neighborhood Asscociation (CTNA).
A few days after the withdrawal of the request, the owner of TJ’s posted to Facebook.
What the owners failed to mention is that, they had NO idea in advance of the plan to demolish their building. A few days after the TJ’s post, we received info via FOIA on the true plans for the site, and what the developer may have said to the owner of TJ’s, does not really correspond to their architectural renderings and plans, as of a month prior.
SEE THE PLANS AS INITIALLY PROPOSED IN NOVEMBER AND DETERMINE IF YOU THINK THAT THE DEVELOPER HAD TJ’S IN MIND WHEN DESIGNING THE PROPERTY. LINK TO PLANS BELOW. ABOVE SEE THE 620 SQ FT NON-RESIDENTIAL SPACE THAT IF NOTHING CHANGES, WILL HOUSE A RESTAURANT. NOTE THAT 620 SQ FT IS ESSENTIALLY A ROOM APPROXIMATELY 25′ X 25′. ONCE A KITCHEN, WALK IN FRIDGE, AND A STOCK ROOM IS BUILT OUT, THERE WON’T BE ROOM FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
IF IS OUR OPINION THAT THE DEVELOPER HAD NO INTENT TO INCLUDE TJ’S IN THEIR NEW BUILDING, AND HAD FU NOT BROUGHT THIS TO LIGHT, THAT TJ’S WOULD BE FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS WHEN THE DEVELOPER MOVED TO EVICT ALL TENANTS.
At the time of their initial November 30th application for demolition, the city was made aware of the redevelopment plans, and the developer was already trying to make changes to the requirements of zoning.
Earlier in 2023, the lawyer for the developer, attended a CTNA meeting and discussed the plans. The membership of the CTNA made suggestions, and the response was that they politely said that they would consider all the suggestions during the process.
See the letter below, written to the Historical Commission to hopefully delay the discussion until a time when the developer can further elaborate new plans with the CTNA – rather than the you’ll find out in the future approach many developers take.
What will happen next:
The Historical Commission once again meets on March 8, 2023 at 7PM, and once again on their agenda is a demolition review for 818 Waverley Street.
3/8/2023 7PM MEETING LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86261244368?pwd=VURPUTVZaUlNWGxpNldXVGtRbThmUT09
Passcode: 030424
Webinar ID: 862 6124 4368
The developer has NOT kept the CTNA in the loop on their plans. No revised plans have been submitted to the neighborhood association, and while plans do not need to be in place at the time of demolition, it would appease the neighborhood.
FU has a filed FOIA request dated March 1st, seeking all correspondence, plans, and documents between the city and its entities and the developer and his team, however it is unlikely the city will respond before the meeting, as they don’t really like us very much.
So… what is needed, over the next few days before this meeting. we all must share this post to our preferred social media. There should be a share link below. Unless we show up to the Historical Commission meeting and demand that until a reasonable plan is in place, and is available to the neighborhood – that demolishing – and any discussion of it, should be delayed.
Please pick your favorite social media below and share this post.