Historic District Renovation
Building in a historic district
Many of the most beautiful homes in Lexington and Concord sit inside a local historic district. That means nearly any exterior change, from a window sash to a porch rebuild, needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the town's Historic Districts Commission before work starts. We have secured Certificates of Appropriateness from both the Lexington and Concord commissions.
What we handle
Due diligence. Confirming whether your property and the proposed work fall under commission review.
The application packet. Drawings, material samples, photos of the existing fabric and a narrative showing how the work meets the district guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards.
Mock-ups. Physical samples of profiles, textures and finishes. Commissioners respond to the real thing far better than to a rendering.
The hearing. Preparing for the public hearing and answering the commission's questions.
Construction to the Certificate. Keeping the approved scope intact in the field, and returning to the commission if anything has to change.
Original fabric, carefully
Historic work rewards patience. Before replacing anything we document what is there, and where a piece can't be saved we match the original profile and material as closely as possible. Structural assessments are coordinated to respect the original fabric rather than work around it.
Plan for the calendar
Commissions meet on a monthly cycle, and submissions are typically due three to four weeks before the hearing. Certificates also expire, so approval timing has to be built into the construction schedule from the start.
For the full process, read our guide Navigating Historic District Approvals.