Where was everyone a month ago?

So, the Globe is making a big deal about something that I first found reported on April 17. Just to repeat, John Henry was granted permission to tear down the house he purchased from current L.A. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt.

Actually Bringing Down the House

A quick note courtesy of On Brookline. It seems as if John Henry's demolition request has been approved and he will be able to start building the house he envisioned when he set purchase price records last year by buying the house owned by current L.A. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt.

Brookline delays demolition of Frank McCourt mansions.

Brookline delays demolition of Frank McCourt mansions - Brookline, MA - Brookline TAB

This will most likely be the most viewed story on this site today. This decision is hardly a surprise, as I'm not aware of any demolition requests that were immediately allowed by the Preservation Committee. The article also provides us with quotes from Committee members which prove they were aware that many valid arguments exist for allowing the demolition to happen, yet they want they stay.

I've already provided my take on this. This is a structure which almost none of us will ever see. This is not a case where the owner is hoping to change the zoning category, increase the number of units on the property, or dramatically change the feel or use of the neighborhood. This is simply a single homeowner who wants to use the property he owns to build a house which suits his needs. I think this exercise is a collective waste of time and it's unfortunate. The Preservation Committee needs to focus on the multi-family homes which get knocked down and replaced by property clogging large developments. Let Mr. Henry build himself a house.

Love that Dirty Water

Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox on their seventh World Series title. While my celebration last night was more relief than jubilation, it was a fun night out. One of the many wonders of being here in Brookline, and living in Coolidge Corner specifically, was we were able to take a quick T ride into Kenmore Square at 7 last night, had our table in a restaurant at 7:30 and were in the middle of the fun as the game ended. As we walked back home through the hoards of students, it was refreshing to step across the town line and back into our peaceful "suburb." Truly one of my favorite aspects of Brookline living. Now off to the rolling rally...

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.

Bringing Down the House

Judging from the site traffic today the front page of the Boston Herald is driving a lot of interest to the John Henry purchase of Frank McCourt's Brookline Estate. I will see what as-of-now unreported information I can dig up.

The thing to note is that it should not be too surprising that Mr. Henry plans to knock down a mult-million dollar estate. People of Henry's echelon who have worked so hard to get to that magnitude of success have earned the right to live as comfortably as they want to, and Brookline isn't exactly creating new buildable land anytime soon.

What should be very interesting is how the impending LDS Church debate will impact the zoning on Mr. Henry's plans. Can there be a double standard?

Stay tuned...