Historical Commission waives 12-month delay for 255 Merriam Street barn demolition

WESTON -- March 24, 2020, Weston Historical Commission waives demolition delay on 1895 Silver Hill barn. Voting 7-0 by roll call, the commission allowed SEB Development to raze the carriage barn at 255 Merriam Street contingent on eight preservation conditions being written into the development agreement now in negotiation with the Board of Selectmen. Conditions include a pre-demolition 3D scan by the firm documenting the town's Case buildings, retention of the original barn door and half-moon window on a new residence set back about 20 feet, period-appropriate replacement of modern rear windows on the Queen Anne main house, and a fully rendered elevation showing differentiation between the reproduced facade and the new bulk behind it. Member Henry S. Stone, Jr. pressed that the new construction "shouldn't be yellow with white trim." Member Alicia warned of "the precedent of allowing the demolition of a historic and significant barn," the second such loss in Weston in close succession. Developer Jeff said he could otherwise pull a 40B building permit "next week"; town counsel Katie Lachman will fold the commission's language into the agreement, targeted for completion by April 15.