The area variances were granted, but the plan was never pursued, and the house, once the home of Obed Marshall, got a little reprieve. But in July of this year, the house, now with a different owner, was bashed to smithereens by a backhoe.
Last night, the new owner of the property was at the ZBA seeking area variances--side yard setbacks and lot coverage--for a new house he plans to construct on the site. The applicant showed the ZBA a model of the house he was proposing.
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| State Street facade and west side of the building |
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| Back and east side of building |
A public hearing on the proposed project has been scheduled for December 18 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The site of the proposed house is not in a historic district.
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Whether or not it is in a historic district is of no consequence. There is no reason for a building like that to be erected in our historic town. A much more sympathetic facade should be on that street that blends with the other 18th and 19th century buildings around it. Nobody seems to care any more.
ReplyDeleteI like the design -- it's a nice change from the cookie-cutter, Disneyfied faux-traditional and boring designs so often replicated here. Enough with the fetishizing the past and demonizing the modern. If it's not in an historic district, let the owner build what they want within the confines of the zoning laws.
ReplyDeleteI don't think no one cares, it's all in the point of view. History is fluid. Whatever is built today will one day be historic. What was built in the past was not historic when it was built. Perhaps it is good to maintain parts of the city as an homage to history and the past, but in other neighborhoods allow history to continue it's natural flow forward. It is an interesting and creative design if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteIt's an OOOF design ... who's the architect ?
ReplyDeleteI agree with John and SlowArt. Throughout the "old world" there are wonderful examples of modern infill within a historic setting. Here in the new world as well. The key is respecting the scale of the neighborhood. Hudson is full of architectural styles of many periods. Imagine if post-federal styles were not allowed, Hudson would not be the architectural jewel that it is, and hopefully will continue to evolve to be.
ReplyDelete