New Haven Independent

Posted by: dana b | May 9, 2007 1:46 PM

Be careful what you wish for. Historic districts can significantly affect residents in the designated area. They can raise or lower property values. They can keep you from creating the house of your dreams. Perhaps most importantly they can protect everyone from architectural innovation and the interesting mix of a real, living place. If you want to live in a museum, that's one thing. If you want to live in something more messy and dynamic, avoid the historic designation.

Posted by: Jonathon Hart | May 9, 2007 3:46 PM

I was, unfortunately, on a plane last night as this meeting took place. I apologize to those who have put so much thought into this for not making it. I do think that we need to educate our neighbors (and ourselves) on what it means to be a historic district. There are tremendous benefits from a preservation standpoint, but it can be onerous and constrictive on homeowners. While I am all in favor of a designation protecting us from another Dan Stein there are other restrictions that can make it prohibitively expensive to do repairs or upkeep for less affluent neighbors. All parties involved really should be well educated on the pros and cons, the rewards and perils before we proceed. When you accept a designation such as this, you do forfeit some significant rights. I look forward to working with you all as we move forward.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | May 9, 2007 7:58 PM

to the people of Beaver Hill

We at Cedar Hill were trying to do the Historical District for our area and found it was to much for us to under take on our own. I did tell a few people about this story tonight. If every you do undertake a city wide Historical district thing we would love to jump on board and help. I am sure we can find other communities that would love to help as well. Gabe Caplan I think that is fran's son came and spoke to us about it and we did our research to show this historical relevance of our community but now we need grant writer and a few other things. If this was to become a city wide undertaken it would prove to be a lot easier as a mass. I think we would have to exclude the downtown area due to development. Well any who if this idea was to ever goes any further let us know. You can reach me through the link on my name or Paul has my e-mail

Posted by: cedarhillresident | May 9, 2007 8:02 PM

dana b

there are 2 different type of Historic districts. There are the state and the federal. The state one is a lot less restrictive than the federal. Maybe someone that is more knowledgeable about the difference in the two type of Historic districts can explain it better. The one that would be more community and home owner friendly is the State one.

Posted by: Moti Sandman | May 10, 2007 9:55 AM

In response to Dana B & Jonathon Hart's concern of the "prohibitively expensive" cost of living in a Historic District, that exact issue was brought up. A neighbor asked a hypothetical question: The family has a slate roof on their beautiful Tudor home. If & when the roof needs to be replaced would the commission force him to put a new slate roof on? A full slate roof can cost over $100,000. The answer was that the Historic Commission would probably have the homeowner do the part of the roof that is visible from the "public right of way" in Slate or Faux Slate (which is cheaper but not as cheap as asphalt) and perhaps allow the balance be done in asphalt.

This then lead into a discussion of the fact that yes we will be giving up some of our property rights and to an organization that we only we one seat on as well as the fact that this will force us to put more money into our homes then we may have done without the designation.

I believe that the folks of Beaver Hill that attended understand the consequences of their actions. This process is not one that we can rush into blindly this must be and will be a deliberative thoughtful process.

To Cedarhill & All other interested parties - Please come to our next WEB Management Team Meeting this Tuesday May 15th, 7pm at the Whalley Avenue (corner of Norton) Police Sub-Station. We will be bringing the Historic District will be discussed as well and your input would be greatly appreciated.

Yours truly,

Moti Sandman
Alderman Ward 28
Beaver Hills

Posted by: Moti Sandman | May 10, 2007 11:42 AM

Sorry, I should have proofed my earlier post. The last paragraph should have read:

To Cedarhill & All other interested parties - Please come to our next WEB Management Team Meeting this Tuesday May 15th, 7pm at the Whalley Avenue (corner of Norton) Police Sub-Station. The Historic District will be discussed and your input would be greatly appreciated.

Posted by: Westrockcairns | May 10, 2007 12:14 PM

Note to Cedarhillresident: That would be Colin Caplan. Gabe Kaplan was Mr. Kotter in "Welcome Back Kotter". Colin has no association with John Travolta, to my knowledge.

Posted by: visitor | May 10, 2007 8:12 PM

I understand Dana B's point about "architectural innovation" but disagree because of how architectural innovation is typically carried out in cities. In Hartford, there are streets and avenues where there are some stunning historic homes, but they are interspersed with the types are architectural innovations that are common to economically struggling cities: ugly,cheap, at one time fashionable buildings. Great historic homes don't look so nice when they sit next to cement box apartment building from the 60s or 70s on one side, and an ugly convenience store on the other or some cheaply constructed plain box house. As a lover of history and great and quality architecture I value preservation. But because I understand the economic reality of cities like New Haven I feel that historic district are a great way to not only preserve, but raise property values and quality of life. Not many will-or can- build a newly constructed house in New Haven comparable (in quality materials, architectural detail, etc.) to the one I live in today. Because I live in a historic district I understand the constraints and financial concerns of roof, window replacements, etc. I think that there are solutions to these things that should be looked at, but still I think its worth it!

Posted by: cedarhillresident | May 10, 2007 9:16 PM

Dhuuu???? I am such a ninny Dang flash back from child hood :)

Posted by: Robert Grzywacz | May 11, 2007 7:38 AM

I'd like to clarify a point or two that, I think, got confused in the reporting of Tuesday's meeting.

When I was asked about the hypothetical replacement of a slate roof, I noted that I remembered only been one such case before the Historic District Commission in the last 10 or so years. That case was for a roof of less than 1000 square feet. It was resolved when it was realized that the only portions of the roof that needed replacement were not visible from the street, and therefore the owner could do as he wished to them without review by the HDC.

In the hypothetical case of the question, we would likely ask the homeowner to investigate the cost of slate, artificial slate and asphalt shingles. Perhaps the homeowner, while not being able to afford the first, could accept the cost of the second. Or perhaps, as in the case we did review, not the entire roof needs work, but only a portion of it, and the dollars available for the entire roof could be focused on that area producing a better result.

If an asphalt shingled roof is the only economical option (and the HDC does recognize the importance of economics on non-elective work), there are types of shingles that are more or less appropriate to replace slate. Clearly, an asphalt shingle roof that attempted to recall shaggy wood shingles would be less appropriate than one that had the feeling of the slate to be replaced.

Overall, the HDC tries to work with a homeowner to come up with solutions that are economically acceptable while maintaining the historic character of a district.

I'd like to thank Alderman Sandman and the neighbors for making Tuesday's good beginning to considering the creation of a local historic district.

Robert W. Grzywacz
Chairman
New Haven Historic District Commision

Posted by: Edward_H | May 11, 2007 3:56 PM

Clearly creating a Historic District in Beaver Hills would not prevent a property owner from cutting down a tree. What about building a new home on an existing plot of land as desribed in the above article? From my reading the Historic District would not prevent this either. I fail to see the point in creating such a district if such action fails to address the issues that created the discussion in the first place.

Posted by: Jackie | May 11, 2007 6:32 PM

All of New Haven made into a historic district???? Wouldn't there have to be something worth preserving in every block? A tall order. Or maybe,as a friend of mine remarked, "That's just nuts!