Wilcox urges Weston owners to choose sympathetic restoration over gut renovation

WESTON — June 11, 2024 — A real estate specialist urged Weston homeowners to restore antique houses sympathetically rather than gut them. Richard Wilcox, who has lived in a 1733 Marlboro colonial for nearly 30 years and has sold roughly 300 historic homes in two decades, told a Weston Public Library audience Tuesday that Weston has about 3,500 residential properties, nearly 1,000 built before 1950 and more than 250 before 1900. He called the town's one-year demolition delay limited — "once it's up, it's up" — and is consulting on efforts to save the vacant General Glover House in Swampscott from a possible 200-unit apartment redevelopment. Wilcox said a Pella representative once quoted him $70,000 to replace 10 windows he could fully restore for far less, and recommended painter David Scott of Classic Effects, mason Mike Irons and Wayland's Wayside Glass for interior storms. Asked how Weston could match Concord's preservation culture, he said: "Try to find out what Concord does and copy it."