Historical Commission to Weigh Demolition of 121 Grove

The Historical Commission will hold a Public Hearing, Wednesday August 3, 2022 6:30 PM at the Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central Street, regarding a demolition request for the structures at 121 Grove Street. 

The building itself dates from the mid-19th century and, thus falls under the town's demolition delay bylaw, adopted in 2003, "for the purpose of protecting the historic and aesthetic resources of the Town of Franklin by reserving, rehabilitating, or restoring whenever possible, buildings, structures, or archeological sites which constitute or reflect distinctive features of the architectural or historic resources at the Town, thereby promoting the public welfare and preserving the cultural heritage of Franklin."

The  structures fall under the statute because they, in whole or in part, were constructed before 1930. The Historical Commission has the theoretical option of delaying a demolition if it feels there is a reason to save the structure but, of course, "saving" usually requires a considerable amount of funding; something usually lacking.

Of course the real story  of the property is not the building but the 26+ acres upon which it sits. The site was eyed with interest by the town's Open Space Committee when it first organized in the late 1990s.  Then, and now, it is prime property for development.