by Judy Grosjean
4/22/2014

 It looks like Holliston is rapidly moving towards becoming a Green Community, which calls for us to adopt an enhanced energy-preserving building code—the Stretch Code. Conforming to the Stretch Code is no small potatoes for new construction, but for antique buildings it can be an even bigger issue. The difficulty and expense can tip the scales towards tearing down and starting from scratch. Green is great, but can there be a balance between energy efficiency and preserving our antique buildings? The good news is that this balance is already there—but Holliston needs to be informed and have a plan for implementing the protections for historic structures in the Stretch Code.

HollistonReporter.com reports that at the April 16 meeting of the Board of Selectmen “An Article to accept the stretch codes required for Holliston to become a Green Community was added and approved, pending informational discussion on stretch codes with representative from the Green Community Program at next week's Board of Selectmen's meeting. “

I am currently the Chair of the Holliston Historical Commission—the town group appointed by the Selectmen to advise that board in issues dealing with Holliston’s historical heritage. Back in March, after reading the Holliston Reporter coverage of the 3/12/14 Selectman’s meeting, I contacted the Selectmen, informing them that the discussion about the adoption of the Stretch Energy Building Code has implications for Holliston’s historic structures, commercial and residential.

With a little research, I found that currently:

“Both the stretch code and the base energy code exempt historic buildings listed in state or national registers, or designated as a historic property under local or state designation law or survey, or with an opinion or certification that the property is eligible to be listed.” (p. 4)

(http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/doer/green-communities/grant-program/stretch-code-qa-feb10-2011.pdf)

I informed the Selectmen and the Building Inspector that under those guidelines, all the contributing structures in the East Holliston and Thomas Hollis Historical Districts, which includes the town center, would be exempt, as well as the other structures in town (such as the Bullard Farm) that are currently on the National Register. However, there are many other structures in town that are eligible to be listed that could and should be exempt as well. Mudville springs to mind, as do many of the houses on our downtown side streets, and other properties around town in Braggville and elsewhere.

The Stretch code calls for significant energy-saving measures that , while ok for modern or new structures, can be extremely expensive as well as difficult (impossible?) to implement in antique structures. The exemption allows the property owner to work with the Building Inspector to make repairs to antique structures while preserving their historic character.

Without the exemption too often sheer cost would favor tearing down over preservation. And by the way, many of the antique houses that are exempt from the stretch code are also the houses that, in addition to contributing much of the historic charm that Holliston is proud of, also make up much of the more affordable housing stock in our town.

 Many communities have adopted the Stretch code. This being Massachusetts, many of them also have significant historic resources (Lexington, Concord, Newburyport, Harvard, Sudbury, e.g.) so I feel that Holliston might be in good company here. However, successful implementation in Holliston would depend on developing a good system for identifying properties what could or should be exempt.

  As of now the Historical Commission has heard from the Building Inspector, but not the Selectmen despite specifically asking to be informed of and included in discussions moving forward. This concerns me as a Commissioner, but also as a property owner. If Town Meeting does move forward and implement these codes, the Selectmen, Building Department, and Historical Commission need to work together. There needs to be a clear plan in place, so that property owners that are well-informed of their options and rights and we can better preserve our historic buildings.