Push On For West Harwich National Historic District

HARWICH – The idea of establishing a National Historic Register District in West Harwich may be growing. The concept was put forward nearly a decade ago when the Captains’ Row moniker for the historic stretch of Route 28 was first gaining recognition, and two residents last week renewed the push. 

 Sally and Lou Urbano were before the historic district and historical commission (HDHC) on Aug. 20 with a renewed pitching for establishing a district. The commission is planning to hold a public hearing on the concept Sept. 17. 

 A National Register Historic District is a geographically defined area with a high concentration of historically or architecturally significant properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While listing provides recognition for the area's significance and offers limited protections against federally funded projects and potential tax incentives for income-producing properties, it does not restrict the property owner's use of the property. 

 The latest initiative was started in 2016 and proponents are now looking for “help and guidance” from the commission in putting such a district in place, said Sally Urbano. She defined the boundaries for such a district as extending from the Herring River Bridge to just east of the Chase Library, which is already on the National Register of Historic Places. 

 “We’re trying to get everybody educated to it,” Lou Urbano said. 

In 2016 the submission was met with positive feedback from the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC).

“Based upon these submissions, and a site visit conducted on March 3, 2016, it is Massachusetts Historical Commission’s opinion that the section of Route 28 between Herring River west to  Chase Library area meets the criteria…for historic and architectural significance,” wrote Philip Bergen, preservation planner with MHC.

 The historic homes along the corridor were the result of a strong fishing industry in the 1830s, Deirdre Brotherson wrote in her 1992-1993 historic survey and inventory project report done for the town’s historical commission. “Most were built in Greek Revival style,” she wrote.

  “The district retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association,” Brotherson wrote. “Some new construction has occurred in the village but the number of contributing properties far out-number the non-contributing properties.” 

The town’s historical commission weighed a district and recommendations for structures to be added to the National Register of Historic Places but the initiatives did not come to fruition.

 Planning Board Chair Duncan Berry, one of the prime movers in developing the Captains’ Row image in West Harwich, said there are ongoing concerns with development in West Harwich. He cited two benefits to such a historical designation: making homeowners eligible for tax credits and material rebate costs for the structures and, on a community level, it would be good for the town to have such a district.

Berry said there could be some political pushback against a historic district, with people seeing it as an obstacle to the use of land.  

That section of town is already a county-designated District of Critical Planning Concern, which has special planning regulations to preserve and maintain the village, including significant cultural, architectural, archaeological, historic and economic resources.

But Berry said there might be a way the historic district and historical commission, the planning board and board of appeals could develop some adaptive reuse provisions to address historic district concerns. 

Lou Urbano said it will likely take funding to hire a consultant to develop a district nomination. There was discussion about using historic preservation funds through the Community Preservation Act. Members of the HDHC said they have been using CPA funds as they work through survey and inventory work identifying the structures in town to be placed on the list of those over 100 years old. That project is not finished yet, said HDHC member Bob Doane.

HDHC Chair Mary Maslowski said the federal district would not be within the committee’s jurisdiction. Maslowski said the board would have to look at the benefits and detriments of establishing a federal versus a local district.

The HDHC members agreed public input into these issues is needed, and agreed to conduct a public hearing on Wednesday, Sept 17.