Fall River Historical Commission Annual Report 2017 One Government Center Fall River, Massachusetts 02722 FR|HC 1 | Page FR|HC Cover Photo: OAK GROVE CEMENTERY Entry Arch 2 | Page FR|HC Prepared for: City of Fall River One Government Center Fall River, Massachusetts Prepared by: FRHC | Fall River Historical Commission Fall River, Massachusetts 3 | Page FR|HC Table of Contents 1 Overview 7 City Map 9 Historic Districts 10 2 Commission Members 16 Board Members 17 Local Historic District Study Committee 18 Community Preservation Committee 19 3 Activities 20 Certificates Issued 22 Workshops/Seminars 23 Preservation and Protection 23 Former Central Police Station 23 King Philip’s Mill Complex 24 Fall River Fire Museum 28 St. Anne’s Church 29 Bank Street Armory 30 Oak Grove Cemetery 30 Preservation Restrictions 38 Fall River Register of Significant Structures 40 Outreach 44 4 Policy 51 Similar Names & Different Responsibilities 52 Certified Local Government 52 Preservation Ordinance 52 Fall River’s Demolition Review Policy 52 Local Historic District Ordinance 53 Sale of Properties 53 Planning Board – Rules & Regulations 54 Chapter 86 – Fall River Zoning Ordinance 54 Preservation Easement 55 Policy for Holding Landmark Designation 56 4 | Page FR|HC 5 Budget 59 Grant Awards 60 Donations 60 Fundraising Efforts 60 CPA Funding 61 Regulatory Review 61 Capital Repair Fund 61 Funds Received Through Penalty 61 Vacant Building Registration and Fee 61 Tax Incentives for Preservation of Historical Properties 62 6 Goals 67 Resources 68 Communication 68 Master Plan 69 Solutions 69 Historical Preservation Ordinance 72 Public Safety Committee 72 7 Conclusion 77 8 Attachments 79 Feasibility Study of the King Philip Mills 80 Fall River Register of Significant Structures 110 9 Index 143 5 | Page FR|HC The mission of the Fall River Historical Commission (a.k.a. Commission) is to identify, document, and protect Fall River’s historic resources, to increase public awareness of Fall River’s heritage and the value of historic preservation, and to do so with not only the guidance and council of the Massachusetts Historical Commission but also by interacting with other city boards and committees. The Commission endeavors to be a preservation information resource to all citizens of Fall River and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by means of research, public meetings, the press, and publications, and to educate the citizenry of Fall River and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regarding the breadth and importance of Fall River’s cultural heritage. The Commission administers the mandates of Fall River’s Chapter 38: Historical Preservation and in particular Article III, Division 3. – Notice of Intent to demolish Structure, more commonly known as the “Demolition Bylaw”. The Commission along with the Fall River Historic District Commission will for the first time, provide the regulatory power to prevent our historical structures from be demolished. While this is limited to 47 properties within the Highlands Local Historical District, it is our hope that the community will see the importance of preservation and eventually expand beyond this small footprint. The purpose of the Fall River District Commission is to aid in the preservation and protection of the distinctive characteristics and architecture of buildings and places significant in the history of Fall River, the maintenance and improvement of their settings and the encouragement of new building designs compatible with the existing architecture of the Highlands Local Historic District. This being the only local 40C district in the city. Future 40C districts will allow for the preservation of our historic neighborhoods currently not possible within the other five (5) city historical districts. Preservation today is pursued in complementary ways within the private, the non-profit, and the public sectors. And in the public sector, governments provide a regulatory framework to protect historic properties, and provide financial support through grants, loans, or tax relief. All of these efforts provide for an attractive city to tourists, stable neighborhoods, economic development and urban revitalization. 6 | Page FR|HC Section 1: Overview __________________________________________________ 7 | Page FR|HC The Fall River Historical Commission is a volunteer board of Fall River residents appointed by the Mayor. The Commission has been in existence since September 16, 1977. The Commission’s mission is to provide a regulatory overview of five designated Historic Districts. The Commission also provides community-wide historic preservation planning assistance by promoting historic preservation awareness and by commenting on projects that may impact historic resources. The Commission’s other responsibilities include preserving and protecting its historical assets through education, legislation, policy recommendations, and physical conservation. The Commission works in collaboration with the Massachusetts Historical Commission, operating under the provisions of Section 8D, Chapter 40 of the Massachusetts General Laws. This law was adopted on September 16, 1977 as a City of Fall River Ordinance - Chapter 38, Historical Preservation. The City has 1,266 structures on the National Register of Historic Places of which 72 structures have been destroyed. The City has 1,910 structures/objects/sites on the Fall River Register of Significant Structures. Since listing of the city’s historical properties started in 1983, the 72 structures on the National Register that have been destroyed by either an act of God or selective demolition accounts for approximately 6% of historical structures destroyed in our City. Listing by District is as follows: Structures Demolished Corky Row Historical District – 437 Demolished: 9* Downtown Fall River Historical District – 30 Demolished: 1* Highland Historical District – 328 Demolished: 6* Highland Local Historical District – 47 Demolished: 0 Lower Highlands Historical District – 119 Demolished: 1* Quequechan Valley Mills Historical District – 7 Demolished: 19 * Demolished listing has not been updated. Total Listing of the Fall River Register of Significant Structures 1,910 8 | Page FR|HC City Map National Register Listings Colors represent National Register of Historic Place listings 9 | Page FR|HC Historic District Corky Row Historical District Corky Row Historical District has 437 properties listed on the National Register. 10 | Page FR|HC Historic District Downtown Fall River Historic District Downtown Fall River Historical District has 30 properties listed on the National Register. 11 | Page FR|HC Historic District Highland Historical District Highland Historical District has 328 properties list on the National Register. 12 | Page FR|HC Local Historic District Highland Local Historical District Highland Local Historical District has 47 properties listed with our Local Historic District. The Highlands Local Historic District is a Chapter 40C District. This district will be overseen by the Fall River Historical District Commission. In the case of new Construction or additions to existing buildings or structures, the commission shall consider the appropriateness of the scale, shape and proportions of the building or structure both in relation to the land area upon the building or structure is situated and in relation to buildings and structures in the vicinity. Properties highlighted in “BLUE” will require this regulatory review. 13 | Page FR|HC Historic District Lower Highlands Historical District Lower Highlands Historical District has 119 properties list on the National Register. 14 | Page FR|HC Historic District Quequechan Valley Mills Historical District Quequechan Valley Mills Historical District has 7 properties listed on the National Register. The majority of historical structures in this district were razed. 15 | Page FR|HC Section 2: Commission Members __________________________________________________ 16 | Page FR|HC The Commission is regularly comprised of seven (7) regular members appointed by the Mayor. Board Member are as follows: NAME & Address Date of Appointment Date Term Expires Antone J. Dias, Chair 04-19-2016 10-20-2018 80 Hood Street Connie Maria Soule, 10-27-2014 10-20-2016 577 Rock Street Laurence Dykes, Jr., Secretary 10-27-2014 10-20-2017 28 Chaloner Street Michael L. Keane 04-19-2016 10-20-2018 96 Colfax Street Richard Mancini 10-21-2016 10-20-2019 243 French Street Kristen Cantara Oliveira, Vice-Chair 10-27-2014 10-20-2016 127 Smithies Street (Available Position) Mr. Alan Rumsey resigned effectively August 17, 2016 The Commission has the following powers and duties: 1. to cooperate with, consult, and serve as an advisory body on matters affecting the historical assets of the city to officers, departments, boards, commissions, committees and other agencies of the city, and to assure that the comprehensive plan embodies the appropriate preservation of those assets; 2. to conduct a survey of Fall River’s buildings and sites for the purpose of determining those of historic significance architecturally or otherwise; 3. to propose as it deems appropriate the establishment of additional historic districts and changes in existing historic districts; 4. upon recommendations of the Fall River Historic District Commission established under City Ordinance 2014-24, and in accordance with the Historic Districts Act, to act as the historic district study committee for the establishment of additional historic districts; 5. to offer assistance to and advise owners and occupants