Weston Historical Commission advances two demolition reviews to October hearings

WESTON — September 19, 2023 — Weston Historical Commission unanimously backs age-restricted housing reuse of historic Dravington Lodge and advances two demolition applications to October public hearings. At the September 19 meeting, the commission voted to support a proposal by Robert Parsekian to convert the former Sunrise assisted-living facility at the Dravington Lodge — a structure cited five times in the town's Housing Production Plan — into 20 age-restricted units near the Kendall Green commuter rail station. Planning Board member and former Historical Commission member Alicia Primer said the zoning work is "squarely in the wheelhouse of the Planning Board," not the commission, but the board would welcome the commission's endorsement. On 22 Church Street, the Elijah Jones estate's circa-1900 carriage house was found significant on a 4-1 vote, with member Steve Wagner abstaining; owner Christopher Richie said demolition is a fallback only if a flexible subdivision plan fails. At 73 Sunset Road, the commission unanimously declared a 1929 colonial revival cape significant but raised pointed objections to proposed stone veneer, oversized windows, and an arched second-story window described by member Alfred Aydelott as "not period appropriate," scheduling a site walk before the October 17 hearing.