Historical Commission Considering Historic District In Falmouth Heights
The Falmouth Historical Commission has conducted its first informational meeting for the residents of what in the future could become the Crown Circle Historic District.
Crown Circle is a name that the commission is using to refer to an area of Falmouth Heights that encompasses everything south of Grand Avenue and Deacons Avenue and west of Chapel Park Avenue and Gertrude Avenue. Edward Haddad, chairman of the commission, said the name is derived from the heart of the area, Crown Avenue, but can be changed should the residents choose to do so.
The Zoom meeting on Wednesday, June 15, was led largely by Mr. Haddad, who gave a brief but thorough presentation of why the commission would like to pursue a historic district in the area and what the process would entail. The emphasis, however, was on the commission’s call for resident engagement.
“We’re not looking for you to make any decisions about what you hear tonight,” Mr. Haddad said. “It’s purely something we want you to take in, and we want to listen to you.”
By joining the other seven historic districts in Falmouth, the character of the Crown Circle area would be maintained and preserved, Mr. Haddad explained. Typically, historic districts are sections of town containing architecturally or historically significant buildings.
Mr. Haddad explained that buildings older than 1950 are considered historic in Falmouth and by that standard, 75 of the 92 homes in the Crown Circle area are historic-based, with more than a dozen dating back to the 1800s.
“The Crown Circle neighborhood is unique in that it has managed to maintain its historic charm and character,” Mr. Haddad said. “Outside these seven historic districts and Crown Circle, there are not many other neighborhoods that can claim this distinction…but Crown Circle is truly a unique and very charming place that captured our imagination when the historical commission started talking about it.”
Mr. Haddad lauded the residents of the Crown Circle area for the maintenance of its allure and aesthetics, saying the commission respects what they have done to preserve their neighborhood. But the commission also believes that by becoming a historic district, the neighborhood would be protected from future changes that may alter the aesthetic or historic value of the neighborhood.
“Being designated a historic district is the only mechanism that can preserve the character that exists in your neighborhood today,” Mr. Haddad said.
If designated a historic district, the area of Crown Circle would be subject to the guidelines of the historical commission, which have been created using public input over many years. He stressed that while the historical commission takes its design guidelines seriously, the intention is not to create a museum but to ensure that any changes made to the neighborhood complement the existing character.
Previously, Mr. Haddad said, the historical commission guidelines were very strict on what was permitted, but things have changed a great deal. The commission works with applicants regularly, he said, to ensure that all applications that come before it end in a positive resolution for both parties. The guidelines continue to evolve, he said, and the commission follows them in an effort for transparency and fairness.
The topic of creating a historic district in this area is not new; the commission made a pass at it about 15 years ago and was met with sound rejection from residents, who expressed no interest. One meeting attendee even joked that neighbors still talk about it to this day, calling it “The Battle of Falmouth.”
Interest from residents, however, seemed to be greater this time around. Mr. Haddad answered residents’ questions, continually reassuring them that this was just the first step in the process of informing the community. He encouraged residents to send in all questions and feedback to mold future meetings and cover points of interest more in-depth.
“We’ll have as many meetings as you would like to have to feel comfortable so that you understand what this is all about,” he said. “We will go through as much public outreach as you need and we’ll ultimately try to get neighborhood consensus.”
While “neighborhood consensus” has not yet been explicitly defined, Mr. Haddad said the commission is working out a strategy for gauging interest in the neighborhood and deciding whether to move forward with the process. Ideally, the commission would like some kind of majority vote or survey system.
The path to creating a historic district is a long process that could take a year or more to complete. If and when public consensus is reached, the commission would then present the results to the select board for approval and funds to create an application prepared by a historical consultant. The application would be a thorough documentation of individual houses and their historical and architectural significance, and overall justify why Crown Circle should be a historic district. Then the Massachusetts Historic Commission, as well as Town Meeting, would need to approve the application.
“You can see it’s a very lengthy process,” Mr. Haddad said. “All of these steps after neighborhood consensus are done by the historical commission. We will carry all the weight, we’ll do all the work. You don’t have to do anything, we just want you to be informed as to what’s going on.”
Mr. Haddad encourages residents with questions to reach out to the historical commission at fhc@falmouthma.gov.
Ultimately, it will be up to the residents to decide whether the neighborhood will be established as a historic district. Another meeting, which will be held in-person, is scheduled for August 3.
“I would encourage you to come in and talk to us,” Mr. Haddad said. “Just remember that the character of that district is now owned by one person, it’s owned by all of you. All of the residents in that district have a stake in what that becomes, so that’s what you have to think about…you as a group will decide what you want your neighborhood to be.”
A recording of the historical commission’s presentation will be available for viewing on the commission’s webpage.