Home / VOL. VIII NO. 01 11/01/2026 / News from Lenox

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News from Lenox


Lenox Historical Commission (LHC) Public Hearing: Spring Lawn, 10 Kemble Street, Lenox. The Public Hearing was called to order. The Chair explained there was a sign-up sheet for all members of the public who wished to speak. To allow time for all, speakers should limit themselves to three minutes and address the subject of the hearing. The Hearing was to determine if a permit to demolish Spring Lawn would be granted or if the Demolition Delay Bylaw would be triggered pausing any action for one year allowing another buyer to be found. That would happen if the building were deemed “preferably preserved” – that is – saved because it is Reviewer historically or architecturally significant.

The Chair further explained that the purpose of the Public Hearing was for the applicant to inform the LHC and answer its questions. Therefore, the applicant would be given adequate and longer time.

Jeff Lynch, attorney for the applicant- the owners of Spring Lawn including Hilary Rockett and Robert Coakley. Lynch explained that they purchased Spring Lawn with the intension of restoring it. A representative of Beals Associates (often used as a Peer Reviewer in permit hearings) explained that the building was not salvageable. The architect described the new buildings to be constructed.

Lynch concluded with an explanation of the interaction with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and their conditional approval of demolition as well as repeating that the goal of the owners had been preservation but were now recommending demolition and reconstruction of the main house, demolition of two other structures (possibly not an original part of the Spring Lawn estate), rehabilitation of the carriage house and new builds of a number of houses.

The public comments (12) were uniformly negative. All supported saving and not demolishing Spring Lawn.

LHC announced that there would be a Special Town Meeting on November 5 and an article on the Warrant would ask for money to pay an independent evaluator of the building to determine whether it could be saved. However, LHC postponed their vote and continued the Public Hearing.

Dana Goedewaagen
Dana Goedewaagen

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