Swampscott historical district support sought

SWAMPSCOTT – Members of the Historical Commission will begin researching how to establish – and build community support for – a potential Humphrey Street historic district that members said would protect and improve the town’s downtown.”I would like to see a community push? not just the Historical Commission saying this is what you need to make Swampscott better,” said member Jason Mahler at the commission’s Tuesday night meeting.Communities can approve a bylaw or ordinance establishing a historical district to protect “distinctive characteristics of buildings and places significant in the history of the commonwealth and its cities and towns or their architecture,” according to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40C. The district is typically overseen by a historical commission including district residents and people familiar with building and real estate, according to the state bylaw. This commission ensures renovations or new construction within the district adheres to standards established in the local bylaw.Commission members at the meeting agreed to focus on Humphrey Street between the Lynn and Swampscott border and the Fish House as the rough boundaries of a historic district. Members cited the area’s mixed use of commercial and residential buildings, the close proximity of parks, public buildings and the beach, as well as development pressure on the area – including plans to replace Cap’n Jack’s Inn with condominiums.”There’s very little we can do to save Cap’n Jack’s and that’s tragic,” Peterson said. “The biggest fear is just it’s a domino? It’s about trying to save what’s there of the town before there’s nothing left.”But actually establishing a historic district requires at least 10 steps including adoption of a local bylaw at Town Meeting, according to a handout presented at the meeting. The first step is that the Board of Selectmen appoint a study committee to research the issue.Much of the discussion Tuesday night involved how to prepare for presenting the idea to selectmen and the community.”We need to show we’ve done homework,” said commission member Susan Munafo. “Why is this good for Swampscott? We have to be able to say (why) to Selectmen and the community.”To answer the question, commission members agreed to contact other communities with historic districts, speak with the Massachusetts Historical Commission about recent efforts by other towns to establish historic districts and begin researching how to build community support for the effort.Committee Chair Jean Reardon said members would reconvene next week to discuss their findings and possibly approach Selectmen in February about forming a study committee.Cyrus Moulton can be reached at [email protected].