Pittsfield Historical Commission OKs Home Demos
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Historical Commission on Monday approved the demolition of three residential properties.
One of the applications came from homeowners who purchased the single-family home before the pandemic and originally hoped to restore it. The other two properties were ordered demolition by the city due to code enforcement.
Caitlin Pemble and her husband bought 995 Peck's Road in 2019 as well as the tax lien that was on it.
The 1935 home's pipes had burst twice and there was informal talk about refurbishing it until a professional inspection showed structural issues and elements that appear to not be up to code.
"At this point, we're looking to tear it down with the intention of rebuilding a single-family home on the property," Pemble explained.
She pointed out that there are four structures on the five-acre lot and only the 1,400 square-foot house is staged for demolition, as the barn, shed, and garage are in working order and intend to be kept.
Commissioner Carol Nichols said she would have liked to see interior photos on the application and Pemble clarified that the original state had not been preserved, with subflooring and plaster walls throughout.
There is also a second-floor addition that was built in the late 20th century.
Chair John Dickson was interested in the number of immigrant families who occupied the home from Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Ukraine.
The applicant appreciated being required to do a historical analysis.
"I don't think we would have spent the time or the money to have it done and it's pretty cool history to have so thank you for that," she said.
The panel also gave the OK for the razing of two West Side properties that are more than a century old: 231 Bradford St. and 112 Robbins Ave.
Community Development and Housing Program Manager Nate Joyner explained that the Bradford Street property is in "extreme disrepair" and cannot be occupied.
It appeared to have been held by a single family for 50 to 60 years and the children are unable to take care of the home after acquiring it.
Demolition is staged to occur this summer and though private ownership will be maintained, it is expected that the owners will become noncompliant with taxes and it will be taken by the city through land court.
Joyner pointed out that the property is about 5,000 square feet and is not a buildable lot.
"It takes a long time before a property ends up in our hands like this," he said, adding that there has been positive pressure for people to refurbish homes due to the recent rise in housing prices.
The Robbins Avenue property has a brighter future ahead of it after demolition.
Joyner described the structure as "urgent blight" and its occupants had been ordered to emergency vacate the property because of safety concerns.
The building had been illegally divided into multiple units and there were no safe second means of egress for most of the units.
There is also reportedly a good deal of trash in the yard.
The most recent owner understood their inability to care for the property and will execute a deed in lieu of foreclosure, which the City Council has signed off on.
Joyner reported that Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity plans to build a two-family dwelling on the lot after it has been cleaned up, as it is buildable.
Dickson commented that the home looks like it is more than past its prime.
"It's always kind of sad to see history sort of go down," Nichols said. "But it's time."
Tags: demolition, historical commission,
