Picking up on efforts that began more than 40 years ago, Edgartown voters will decide next week whether to more than double the size of their historic district, which includes about 250 homes in the heart of the village.
A majority of Edgartown homeowners who were polled about a possible expansion of the historic district said they’d like their properties to be included. Surveys were mailed in February. Public hearings are planned for this summer.
The Edgartown historic commission is beginning to test public support for an expansion of the town historic district. A survey has been mailed to 284 people who own property in an area marked for possible inclusion in the district, which would more than double if lines are redrawn as proposed.
A historic downtown Edgartown property that housed a women’s clothing store for nearly three decades has been sold. The new owners said they plan to open a year-round pedestrian food market there sometime this summer.
The buzz in the basement of the Old Whaling Church on Friday afternoon came from the members of the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust, gathered for their annual meeting and luncheon. But the main topic of conversation was unbeknownst to a key member of the group. In honor of Christopher Scott’s 20th year as executive director, the Edgartown selectmen and the Edgartown historic district commission presented Mr. Scott with the Edgartown historic district preservation award.
None of the houses on North Water street in Edgartown are small. But tucked among the old whaling captains’ homes, with their broad lawns stretching down to private docks on the outer harbor is a comparatively diminutive Greek revival building known as the library. The fate of this home has hung in the balance since September, when plans for its demolition were first presented to the Edgartown historic district commission in the wake of strong neighborhood opposition to the project.
The Edgartown historic district commission continued a public hearing Tuesday afternoon on a plan for renovation work on side-by-side properties on South Water street. The commission will revisit the issue again at their next meeting on June 1.
The Edgartown historic district commission took the first formal step Monday toward expanding the town’s historic district.
At their regular meeting, the selectmen approved the commission’s request to begin drawing up new boundaries for the oddly shaped district that leaves parts of downtown Edgartown outside of its boundaries.
The district should be “more concise,” James Cisek, chairman of the commission, told the board.
The Edgartown historic district commission has ordered a cease and desist on construction of a large fence being built on a North Water street home.
The order was issued to Edgartown contractor John Nugent on Wednesday to halt activity on a new granite and wood fence and granite curbing at 93 North Water street, as well as a brick retaining wall along Cottage street which runs perpendicular to the property.
