Join us for part 2 of a two-part conversation on strategies for success in creating Local Historic Districts (LHDs)

Coming up this Fall is a two part conversation on strategies for success in creating Local Historic Districts (LHDs)

Creating a Local Historical District can be a daunting process, not only with respect to the legwork and research, but in educating local property owners, businesses, and other residents, and successfully passing it into law. Join us for a twofer Conversation on the Commons on having your work cut out for you but making it bear fruit with members of Historic District Commissions who have gone through the process. What are the opportunities for engaging people in topics that interest them? How can you propose strategies/processes that raise interest rather than hackles and get those who worry to join the process? What are some of the standard objections to local historic districts and how can we respond to them? What works and what doesn’t?

In this second Conversation, we will ask both successful and (previously) unsuccessful commissions what works and what doesn’t as you are bringing a local historic district proposal to the town for an eventual vote at town meeting or in the city council. How long should this take? What if there is a group of vocal opponents? How might you combat rumors and false narratives? Are there precedents to be followed? How can community engagement bring in those who doubt rather than leaving them outside?

Featured panelists will be: Jim Neilson & Peter Wilner (Ashland Historical Commission)

This meeting will occur on Zoom.

Registration for the Conversations is free. We also invite our colleagues from the Commonwealth’s public and community history organizations to submit ideas for future conversations, and to participate as panelists and moderators. To register, see the Calendar, volunteer as a panelist or moderator, check out the Archive of past Conversations, or suggest ideas for future topics, see our website at https://masshistorycommons.org/public-square/conversations/.

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