Published October 21, 2020
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — In a surprising turn of events, the Oct. 17 Town Meeting voted to indefinitely postpone a warrant article that would have given the selectmen the power to take an historic Lowell Street home by eminent domain. The reason: the current owner of Smith Farm has withdrawn a permit to demolish it.
Historical Commission Chairman Kirk Mansfield told attendees sitting on the Lynnfield High football field that the commission requested the Board of Selectmen to include Article 5 on the Town Meeting warrant. If approved, Article 5 would have given the selectmen the authority to take the old Joseph Smith house, 163 Lowell St., by eminent domain. Former residents John and Heather Sievers sold Smith Farm to Boston Clear Water Company for $860,000 on Nov. 25, 2019.
“The Joseph Smith house was built in the first quarter of the 19th century,” said Mansfield. “It sits on land that was granted to the Smith family by the king of England. The Smith family are an integral part of the town’s history and they were some of our founding fathers.”
After Boston Clear Water Company purchased Smith Farm from the Sievers, Mansfield said the Lowell Street water company conveyed the house to Lynnfield Virgil Properties, LLC. He recalled that Virgil Lynnfield Properties manager Paul Marchionda applied for a demolition permit in June.
“The Historical Commission requested a reason why, but the owners did not provide that information to us,” said Mansfield. “We exercised our right to place a one-year demolition delay on the property. We held a public meeting and we invited the owner. While many concerned residents and abutters attended the meeting, the owner nor a representative for the owner chose to attend.”
Mansfield said the Historical Commission wanted the town to take Smith Farm by eminent domain and “preserve the home much like Centre Farm.” He recalled that Lynnfield Virgil Properties’ attorney Julie Connolly told the Planning Board during an Oct. 14 public hearing that Marchionda did not want to raze the home and “only wanted to do some repair work.”
“(Connolly) also stated the owners had the intention to preserve the house despite the demolition application still remaining open,” said Mansfield.
While voters were entering Pioneer Stadium, members of the Historical Society held signs urging voters to “Save Smith Farm.” Historical Society President Linda Gillon also handed out copies of the demolition permit requested by Lynnfield Virgil Properties, where Marchionda wrote his intention was to “demolish” Smith Farm.
Mansfield said Marchionda withdrew the demolition permit from the Building Department on Thursday, Oct. 15.
“Please understand that by withdrawing this application, it does not mean the owner does not retain the right to resubmit another request for demolition,” said Mansfield. “Since the representative of Lynnfield Virgil Properties stated they would like to preserve the house, we are now going to take them up on that offer and we are asking the owner to show good faith and attend our next Historical Commission meeting and discuss the options that are available to preserve this house perpetually.”
Mansfield said the Historical Commission “takes its responsibilities very seriously.”
“We will continue our efforts to preserve this house on 163 Lowell St. as well as all of the historic homes in our town,” said Mansfield.
After Mansfield concluded his remarks, he was given a round of applause. There were no Virgil Lynnfield Properties representatives who spoke about Article 5.
