Somerville preserves commission punts Walnut Street demolition case over ad error

Other Committee · Meeting of March 3, 2026

Somerville Historic Preservation Commission continues Walnut Street carriage house case after procedural error, approves Highland Ave. window work. The commission voted 5-0 at its March 3 meeting to continue case HP 25-000114, concerning a proposed demolition of a rear carriage house at 141-143 Walnut Street, to April 7 after staff acknowledged the legal advertisement had incorrectly described the matter as a demolition delay significance review rather than a local historic district alteration proceeding. Chair Eric Parks and Commissioner D.J.

Chagnon noted that LHD status attaches to the entire property, not individual structures, rendering a significance vote "a step that does not exist for an LHD." Applicant representative Nestor Lemus of Coliseum Development Advisors had sought a finding that the deteriorated carriage house is not significant or preferably preserved, to clear a path for demolition and eventual lot subdivision alongside a planned restoration of the property's Queen Anne Victorian front building. In a separate 4-0 vote, the commission granted a conditional certificate of appropriateness to homeowner Lee Lu at 76 Highland Ave., requiring repair of salvageable original windows, in-kind replacement of those beyond restoration, and staff approval of all material specifications.

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Source: the Other Committee meeting of March 3, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.