Henrygate: Part II

We'll get to the news of the day a little later (Housing sales up, but Globe says they're down!) but the latest in the case of one John W. Henry vs. the Brookline Preservation Committee.

Sheri Flagler, the chair of the committee, was quoted yesterday by the Brookline TAB as saying she would be visiting the McCourt house to see if it had any historical significance. The committee would then determine whether they should intervene, therefore blocking any tear down for at least one year.

With all due respect...THIS IS BROOKLINE. I challenge anyone out there to find three consecutive non-attached structures with any architectural continuity in our lovely community. Don't get me wrong, I wish above all else that the condo buildings that look like cheap 1970's motels were never built. I wish the gaudy glass walled buildings were not mixed in with our lovely bow-front brick "brownstones." Where was the preservation committee then?

Now, it would be wrong of me to question intervention when I would like nothing more than retroactive intervention, but this is a single family home that most likely will not be seen by anyone but invited guests and those people who specifically go out of their way to see it.

There was a similar issue in my neighborhood about two months ago. There was a house on the corner of Thorndike St. and Winchester St. which had a demolition request filed. Immediately posters went up on every telephone pole and mailbox begging for people to step up and come to the hearing to prevent this tear down from happening. The community (immediate neighbors) responded and the one year "stay of execution" was put in place. When you see my neighborhood you can see what makes sense about this decision. I do not think the decision in congested and condensed Coolidge Corner is the same as in a sprawling multi-acreage estate in secluded "South Brookline."

My feelings are:

a) Let's let Mr. Henry focus on the task at hand first, and not decide anything until November 2nd.
b) Let's (and I've said this before with the LDS debate) wait and see what his plans are for the properties
c) Let's all sit and think of all the things we would feel entitled to if we had purchased something for $16.5 million.

While you're thinking of all of that money, please consider taking $10 and purchasing a raffle ticket to support Breast Cancer Research. You might just win tickets to see Mr. Henry's other large purchase in the area.