From:	Michael Behrendt
Sent:	Friday, September 05, 2014 10:27 AM
Subject:	FW: Town Hall Demolition and the National Register Historic District

To the HDC and Todd,
FYI from John Carroll, below.

Michael Behrendt
Director of Planning and Community Development
Town of Durham
15 Newmarket Road
Durham, New Hampshire 03824-2898
(603) 868-8064 (phone)
(603) 868-8033 (fax)
mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us
www.ci.durham.nh.us

From: Carroll, John []  
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2014 9:37 AM 
To: pstanhope@stanhopegroup.com 
Cc: Michael Behrendt 
Subject: Town Hall Demolition and the National Register Historic District

TO: Peter Stanhope, Chair, and Members of the HDC 
 
Statement of John E. Carroll to the HDC: (Re: National Register Historic District) 
 
     The matter before us is a simple one. It's not about demolition of this building. It's about what total 
demolition of the building will lead to: loss of our National Register Historic District, as documented in the 
HDC Meeting with NHDHR in February, 2013. And that National Register Historic District is worth far 
more money than is being offered for this property. Why? Because the District's ability to bring us 
monetary return in grants continues forever, or at least as long as there is a United States of America. 
The New Hampshire Division of Historic Resources (NHDHR) has offered us a reasonable resolution 
which, if their guidelines are followed, offers us the opportunity to gut the interior of this building and 
build out from the rear while preserving the front and two side facades. We must consider that, for the 
sake of the integrity and life of our National Register Historic District. 
 
     Second, since a vote up or down on total demolition of the building affects the National Register 
Historic District in Durham and its continuance  or cessation, that is a vote to be taken by the Town 
Council, not the HDC. Why? because it was the Durham Board of Selectmen, the predecessor of the 
Council, which took the vote to establish the National Register Historic District. It is only the Town 
Council, therefore, and not the HDC, which can take a vote to terminate the district by voting for the 
complete demolition of this building. There a representative of the Town Council on the HDC, Councilor 
Marple, and I believe that she can bring the matter of such a vote to the full Council. 
 
Thank you.