Like an ink-resorbing chemical deliberately swiped across an original copy of our Constitution, a piece of Newton’s history has been cavalierly erased. This is not a case of history being re-written. It is a case of history being under-protected, devalued and ignored.
Newton has fewer than two dozen properties that are locally landmarked, a process that entails substantial research for designation based on that research by a body of scholarly historians. Recently, one of those properties with an antique residence constructed in the 1700’s and belonging to an early Newton family that settled here, was destroyed by a contractor. This property was also listed on the National Register of Historic Homes.
Did the contractor do this accidently? Did one of his subs knock it down by mistake? Did the contractor approach the Inspectional Services Department to report that the house had been demolished accidentally, in spite of the Partial Demolition Permit that had been granted to remove only a part of the building to allow for a rear addition? Or did Inspectional Services discover the full demolition when checking on permitted construction progress? Or, did the contractor take a calculated risk and, if so, what are the consequences/punishments that the contractor might endure?
The ordinance that regulates the penalty for this type of behavior is vague and weak. It allows for a $300/day fine that may be imposed and other possible actions that may be taken against the perpetrator. I want to stress the word may. I would like to know how often fines or punishments are imposed. Do they actually act as a deterrent? A builder who purchases a property for $1,000,000 and builds a residence that he plans to market for $3,000,000 or more can easily absorb a $50,000 fine (approximately @$300/day for 167 days). Where is the City’s transparency on how these fines are applied? How often do contractors go beyond the limits of a partial demolition permit? How can Newton’s remaining landmarked antique residences be preserved from builder disregard of supposed community historic preservation values?
I am personally irked by the builder practice of asking forgiveness rather than permission. The house across the street from mine, while not an antique, was found historically significant and a builder was issued a partial demolition permit several years ago. In spite of the construction limits allowed under that permit, his sub-contractors effectively demolished the entire house, leaving merely a partial wall of the original house. He brought character witnesses to the City to plead that he made a mistake, enabling the community to get a token of leverage to demand recessing of his three-car wide garage by two feet. The neighbors were never made aware of any fines or other sanctions imposed.
The present case in which the current builder illegally demolished the valuable historical antique at 29 Greenwood Street in Oak Hill requires close attention. To prevent further loss of our very few landmarked properties, the heaviest reprimand allowed under the law should be imposed without the political considerations inherent in the use of the word may in the ordinance’s penalty delineation. The fines and actions taken by the City need to be made public and the construction world must hear that the consequences of disregard for the law will be swift and onerous. At minimum, the builder should be fined, forced to rebuild what he destroyed, and then he, or any organization with which he is associated, should be restricted from receiving any building/demolition permits within Newton for at least five years, with notice of such action being made to the public and to our bordering communities.
I’m appalled by this. I definitely agree that there needs to be a heavy penalty for such actions. I think being banned from work in Newton for a number of years would be a very fitting punishment.
This is horrifying and must be investigated.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gershom_Hyde_House
I don’t even see a special permit for 29 Greenwood. Was this a By Right project?
https://www.newtonma.gov/government/city-clerk/city-council/special-permits/-folder-1152
@Claire: a partial demolition permit was issued. No Special Permit required for this. But that didn’t stop the contractor from demolishing the whole structure illegally.
This is terrible. I don’t understand how this could have happened.
In my observations, there are significant holes in Inspectional Services’ processes. I have seen examples where they issue permits for way more than is indicated/approved and other examples where they just fail to check up.
I watched someone undertaking a project that clearing would have required a permit and there was none. In one case, I called and advised ISD of the unpermitted work going on and I was told I would have to file a complaint/report. Seriously? Against a neighbor? Why couldn’t they just do a drive by and check it out? Maybe it was okay and maybe it wasn’t
Will the developer see any increased profits (less renovation costs or a larger new house footprint)?
If only several thousand $ then its reasonable to assume unintentional accident… but several tens of thousands $$ should raise suspicions
Google 29 Greenwood and see the real estate description of the property. Interesting?
I agree 1000% with this assessment. I know exactly where that house was (near NSHS) and even took a picture of it when I went hiking last year. It appeared very old, dilapidated and even possibly haunted.
While I had assumed this was your typical teardown (like so many on nearby Dudley Road), if it was a registered historic landmark then this contractor needs to very publicly be made an example of. Why were they even permitted to tear it down anyway?
As I understand it, the partial demolition permit allowed for a rear wall to be removed to add a large addition that would not have been visible from the street. The house was to have been renovated and restored to habitable condition. If our City does not stand up to this outrageous illegal behavior, we will soon see legions of bulldozers running roughshod over our rights to regulate construction in Newton.
Ugh. As soon as I started reading this post, I feared that it was the Hyde house, which I wrote about on my blog in Oct. 2019 (https://backsideofamerica.blogspot.com/2019/10/hyde-ing-in-plain-sight.html). Quoting my article: “The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and has been designated as a Newton Landmark Preservation Site, which provides the highest level of protection for properties deemed to be architecturally or historically significant, per the City of Newton web site.”
So if the highest level of protection isn’t good enough, then Newton has a serious problem.
Make the developer rebuild it. That’s how San Francisco dealt with a brazen teardown: https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/City-requires-property-owner-who-demolished-13467909.php
I would favor that solution as the best deterrent to repeat behavior. @Jess: I can’t read the article without a subscription and fear other V14’ers will have the same problem. Would you list the main points and process used for us?
Thanks for raising this issue Sallee. Have you heard from any city officials what the response is going to be or whether they are doing anything?
Inspectional Services has issued a Stop Work order.
The developer’s name is Ty Gupta. He set up an LLC called 29 Greenwood LLC, which is the property owner of record.
This not Mr. Gupta’s first violation in Newton. In 2013 at 139 Arnold Road he demolished and excavated without a permit.
I believe the Historical Commission will be discussing this at their next meeting. Apparently exacting real punishment is a political hot potato. Here is where Ruthanne. Inspectional Services and the City Council should all be on the same page…demanding the house be rebuilt and builder banned from Newton. No additions allowed, but renovation to its original habitable state before neglect. With architectural oversight. Only public outrage can accomplish that. Write to yhem all!
Here is a report by the Beacon Hill Architectural Commission from Nov 2020. The first two violations are by this same contractor, Ty Gupta
https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2020/12/BH_11-19-20_Minutes%20APPROVED.pdf
We also need to look at the role of realtors in urging demolitions. Castles has listed for sale a new 2021 house at 29 Greenwood for $4.2 m, with no mention of any historic house.
Here are some comments from the master preservation carpenter at Boston’s North Bennet St School.
“This developer should definitely pay a big price for destroying this hand made 18th c house. The trick will be this…Every bit of this home was made by hand. Much of the frame was hewn of oak timbers with broad axes and adzes, the sheathing was sawn from a water powered mill, the miles of interior trim, sash and doors were made by hand from rough lumber with hand planes .To hire crew to reproduce this house would theoretically be possible but there are only a handful of qualified timber framers and joiners who could achieve this monumental undertaking”
The Newton Historical Commission is currently scheduled to meet at 7pm on Thursday, May 27. (Check the Electronic Posting Board for the Agenda and for scheduling changes if you want to listen in.) I hope they have this item on the agenda.
Unfortunately this builder/ developer has a long history of this type of behavior and no one has been able to stop it! It is unbelievable how he continues with absolute disregard to rules and guidelines for historic districts and historic properties for his own financial gain. He is not alone in this, but definitely stands out as one of the worst offenders.
Does anyone know what occurred at the Historical Commission meeting Thursday night (August 26th, 2021)? This item was on the agenda. Thanks