2013-01-07 BOS Packet - Released

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Town of Lexington- PY2014 FY2018 Capital Improvement Projects Project Name: Moon Hill National Register Nomination Project _ Date: 13-Dec-12 i Submitted By: Lexington Historical Commission Department: Community Development First Year Submission? Q Phone #: 781-862-0500 x 230 E-mail: tiamescalexingtonma.gov i Description of Project The Moon Hill National Register District Nomination Project is the next step in the Lexington Historical Commission's long term plan to document and record the Mid-Century Modem Movement of domestic architecture in Lexington. This plan was begun in the mid 1970s when several of Lexington's midcentury modern neighborhoods were included in the Comprehensive Cultural Resources Survey of Lexington (Inventory),on line at http://historicsurvey.lexin-qtonma.gov/. At the urging of the Massachusetts Historical Commission, however,the LHC was encouraged to bring national attention to Lexington's important role in this architectural movement by conducting further research and documentation. Lexington is exceptional among Boston suburbs in the number and variety of its modern residential subdivisions and the pioneering model that developments such as Six Moon Hill represented in the post-War housing boom. Accordingly, in 2010, using funding provided by:CPA and a grant from the MHC,the LHC completed and submitted a nomination form to the MHC to list Lexington's mid-century modern houses on the National Register of Historic Places. This nomination has resulted in the formal listing of these properties by the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C. The National Register of Historic Places is the list of individual buildings, sites,structures, objects and districts deemed important in American history, culture,architecture, archaeology, engineering and culture due to their association with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history or with the lives of persons significant in our past; or that embody distinctive characteristics of a type, period,or method of construction; or that represent the work of a master;or that possess high artistic values.The Mid-Century Modern Houses of Lexington, MA listing is a multiple property submission which establishes a historic context statement that defines the property type—post World War II progressive modern residential suburban houses and housing developments—and then describes criteria for integrity of the buildings in terms of their setting, design, materials,workmanship, feeling and association and registration requirements to enable future nominations to the National Register for individual properties or historic districts that fit the context and requirements. At the time of the MPS submission, a National Register District Nomination for the Peacock Farm Historic Neighborhood was also submitted and accepted. The MHC has determined that the Six Moon Hill neighborhood meets the National Register criteria for listing at the local, state and possibly national levels of significance, The MHC found that the Six Moon Hill neighborhood was a"cohesive grouping of 229 architect- designed houses built between 1947 and 1957...as a planned community of modest,well-designed houses [whose]development illustrates the idealistic social ethos that was an important part of one stream of the Modernist movement." These homes have received international recognition as"hallmarks of advanced contemporary design".and their architectlowners are now recognized as "modern masters". The Six Moon Hill Neighborhood Association met with the LHC and requested that this nomination be given priority attention, and the LHC agreed. Accordingly,the LHC now requests CPA funding to cover the costs of documenting and submitting the nomination form to the MHC. This will require the services of a professional architectural historian who will complete the necessary research and documentation, meet with the neighborhood property owners in at least two public meetings,and work with the MHC to defend the nomination to the State Board in Massachusetts and the Keeper of the National Register in Washington. The Six Moon Hill Neighborhood Association has agreed to contribute $2,000 to defray the cost of this project. The National Register listing would be a purely honorary distinction,and would only be completed with the consent of a majority of homeowners in the neighborhood. The listing would have no regulatory impact whatsoever on Moon Hill homeowners unless a federal or state project(such as the construction of a road)were planned that could adversely impact the historic resources. Lexington currently has 12 properties individually listed on the National Register,and four other neighborhoods(for complete list and applicable forms, see http://historicsdrvey.lexingtonma.gov/`lexareas/natiorial historic re ister.htm). Justification/Benefit. The total project cost of$8,000 ($6,000 of CPA funds, $2,000 contributed by the Neighborhood Association) is based on the 80 anticipated hours required for a professional consultant to research and complete the federally-mandated National Register District Nomination form, at the going rate of$100 per hour. Town of Lexington-FY 2014-PY 2018-Capital Improvement Pmjects Page 1 of 2 Saved bate: December 12,2012