You might think this to be the owner's right, but it apparently isn't, according to reporting by the A-B TAB: since the property is protected with a deed restriction and has landmark status within the Aberdeen Architectural Conservation District, he needed prior approval.
This is the owner who has applied first to demolishing the house to build a large development, then to move the house to another location. He was rejected both times. He has listed the property with a real estate agent among "commercial" or "land" properties, not residential.
Before (photo: Meaghan Ackermann of A-B TAB):
After (photo: Karen Elowitt of A-B TAB):
Yuck.
3 comments:
I drive by this everyday. It looks like a badly shorn sheep. A $3 million dollar shorn sheep. What a frickin' shame. Thanks for the before picture though!
Taking the ivy off the house probably saved it. Ivy and stucco are a BAD mix. Taking every bit of landscaping down...well it's ugly but a lot easier to care for. I don't like it but it is his property and I'm sure he's pissed as hell that he can't do with it what he wants.
For those interested guidlines for the residential district can be downloaded from the City of Boston website at http://www.cityofboston.gov/environment/pdfs/study_report.pdf.
It is a large doc, but the landscape issues are covered on page 54. For those who are unable to open such a document, here is some of the content:
B. Trees and Plantings
See also 10.2A: Spatia l Organization
Intent
1. The intent of the tree and planting standards is to maintain the verdant character, especially
the trees and lawns that contribute to the District.
Commission Review
2. The Commission shall review removal and/or replacement of trees.
3. The Commission shall review landscape plans for new construction.
4. Contributing trees shall be protected from adjacent construction activity.
5. Maintenance of, removal of, and additions of trees should consider existing or intended
landscape designs and should contribute to the historic character of the property and its
context within the District.
6. Contributing trees should be retained.
7. When removal of a contributing tree is necessary, it should be replaced with another tree.
Species common to the district include, but are not limited to: Ash, Beech, Dogwood, Elm,
Ginko, Hickory, Linden, Locust, Pin Oak, Red Oak, Spruce, Sugar Maple, Sweet Gum, Tulip,
White Pine.
8. Intrusions should be screened using appropriate plantings.
[]
10. It is recommended that maintenance, removal of, and additions of lawns and plantings other
than trees consider existing or intended landscape designs and contribute to the historic
character of the property and its context within the District.
11. It is recommended that shrubs and hedges not obscure the view to the primary building
façade.
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