The Chair, Carl Sprague, announced there was a single agenda item. The Congregation of Marians, 2 Prospect Hill Road, were seeking permission to demolish a building.

The Committee has the responsibility of determining if a building is historically significant and disallowing demolition when it is determined that the building in question is.

The Marian’s were seeking a permit to demolish a building to build a 30 car parking lot. Representing the Marians were Matt Jacobs, Andrew Sansom, Brother Mark,

Bethany Price, and Brian Forsythe.

HPC Member Peter Williams did the research and discovered the building was a part of the former estate, Eden Hill.  It was the “Horticultural House” and was one of ten structures on the property considered significant by the Mass Historical Commission. The Committee asked if the parking lot could be located elsewhere given the vast number of acres.

Marian representatives shared that they did not want to build a parking lot and bear that expense but the Stockbridge Fire Chief disallowed parking where it had been as it could block fire and emergency equipment. They also felt they could not locate it elsewhere because it would be a long walk uphill to the church and many attendees were elderly. 

Williams shared that it had an identification number STO 536 and was on the National Register of Historic Places.

Marian representatives countered that it was in bad shape and the Building Inspector should condemn it and then they would tear it down due to structural damage.

HPC asked why they had not maintained the structure.

Demolition was denied.