North Adams Houghton Street Houses Headed for Demo

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The blighted structures near the bottom of Houghton Street may finally becoming down.

Historical Commission Chairwoman Justyna Carlson reported to commissioners on Tuesday that representatives for the Romeo estate had picked up paperwork for the demolition of buildings at 198-214 Houghton St.

"We have already invoked the year (demolition delay) to find another use for it," she noted.

The buildings have been empty and deteriorating for years and had initially been approved for removal more than a year ago. The commission sparked an angry protest by neighbors in the Houghton area when flipped to invoke a demolition delay on four of the properties in hopes of rehabilitating one or more of the 170-year-old homes as museum pieces.

The small two-unit structures were built sometime between 1840 and 1870, likely as homes for workers in the Hodge Mill that once stood across from them on the west side of Houghton.

But difficulty in getting access to the building through the estate in time to set up a 501(c)3 and apply for grants and fundraising doomed the project before it could get off the ground.

The commission will have to sign off yet again on their demolition, so Carlson asked the commissioners to be prepared for approval. The matter could not be discussed because it was not on the agenda, but she added there were other buildings around the city from the Romeo estate that will also be coming before the board.

Commissioners also should be prepared for a demolition order for the Redwood Motel, Carlson said. The redevelopers of the motel are planning to remove one of the buildings but maintain the look of a 1960s motor court.

The commission did approve the first phase of renovations at another historic structure: Greylock Mill. But the approval comes with the hope of getting a peek inside the structure before anymore plans proceed.

Work on the century-old mill is currently being overseen by McNair Historic Preservation Inc. of Alabama, which wrote to the Massachusetts Historical Society seeking approval to work in the east and west sections of the Weaving Shed along Route 2. The state society held off recommendations until hearing from the Historical Commission.

The commissioners endorsed the first phase of the redevelopment of the Greylock Mill.

The mill was purchased earlier this year by Salvatore Perry and Karla Rothstein, principals of Latent Productions of New York. The first phase of the project is to develop an artisanal food production facility in the Shed along with a restaurant and event space.

The dedication of a replica of the fort in 1933. With the approaching anniversary of the fort's siege, organizers are hoping to bring more attention to city's Colonial history.

Commissioner Wendy Champney spoke of her plans to mark the 270th anniversary of the seige of Fort Massachusetts on next Aug. 20.

"It seems we kind of brush over Fort Massachusetts because there's only a chimney and a parking lot," she said. "If it wasn't for Fort Massachusetts you wouldn have Williamstown ... we need to honor it the proper way with dignity and pride."

She hoping the state will research the area known as St. Francis Indian Ledge off Massachusetts Avenue, where it's believed General de Vaudreuil and his French and Indian troops looked down on the fort in 1746. Champney said musket balls had been uncovered on her parents property near the point and she believed more artifacts might be discovered.

"I would love for the state to get involved and see what we can do with this," said Champney, who uncovered information doing research for a local history book she's writing about young boy. "I would like to bring Fort Massachusetts to the front again. ... This is our heritage, this is our community."

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