KCB Boiler Room After Hours: The Power of Preservation Easement with Historic New England

May 27

We hosted Historic New England earlier this month. To a packed house, they presented on their Historic Preservation Easement Program. Here’s a recap.

May is Historic Preservation Month. In celebration of this, the Boiler Room played host to one of the heavy-hitters when it comes to historic preservation, Historic New England. Their Senior Preservation Manager Dylan Peacock presented on their “Preservation Easement Program.”

This is a program that can protect historic elements both inside and out of your home, including historic landscaping, from demolition or lot subdivision. It’s “one of the oldest and most recognized preservation easement programs in the country,” as their site explains, with protections dating back to 1947. They also have a history of “deaccessioning” historic museum properties into private hands after funding became scarce, thereby “saving” the properties. And in 1982, they began working with private homeowners, with the formalization of the Preservation Easement Program. This includes finding potential tax advantages for historic property owners.

Attendance was strong, with a standing-room only turnout, and at times, you could hear a pin drop. One of the attendees, a carpenter specializing in historic renovation, explained in an interview,

“These are the people who tell us, ‘No.’” With a smirk on his face, he added, “So of course I find this interesting.” And in further conversation, he applauded the work these organizations do in protecting elements of the homes that he’s spent his life renovating and taking care of.

This power of “No” is at the heart of the Easement program, with their team having the legal power to give this program “teeth.” In other words, if the Easement is violated, they could put a lien on the property until things are made right. Dylan was quick to add in a response to a question from the audience that they work closely with homeowners to come up with reasonable solutions that work for everyone.

Thank you to our sponsors Boston Stone Restoration and Boston Glass Group. And to our Courtyard Partner a Blade of Grass for keeping our courtyard looking fresh.

For more information, please head over to their website linked here.