From:	Michael Behrendt
Sent:	Monday, July 03, 2017 10:32 AM
Subject:	Riverwoods - barn - email from Beth Olshansky

To the Heritage Commission (and Planning Board and applicant),
Please see Beth Olshansky’s email below.

Michael Behrendt
Durham Town Planner
Town of Durham
8 Newmarket Road
Durham, NH  03824
(603) 868-8064
www.ci.durham.nh.us


From: Olshansky, Beth []  
Sent: Monday, July 03, 2017 6:37 AM 
To: Michael Behrendt; peter Stanhope 
Subject: Barn on Rte. 108

Dear Heritage Commission,  

I understand that Riverwoods has submitted plans to renovate the historic barn that 
is highly visible from our Rte. 108 gateway in order to use as a rental for a 
relatively short period of time. While the barn is surely in need of renovation, I 
find the elevation drawings troubling, particularly because the barn is along a 
gateway to our town.

As we watch our downtown and indeed our Rte. 155A gateway become jam-
packed with large, out of character buildings, I fear that this will turn into another 
project that will mar an entrance to our town. (The Riverwoods building itself 
promises to significantly alter our 108 gateway while also severely impacting our 
Rte. 4 gateway as well as the exit ramp off of Rte. 4.)  Indeed, we will have a bit of 
field left along Rte. 108 reminding us of our agricultural heritage and as these 
lands disappear, every reminder becomes more and more significant. Thus the 
importance of the redevelopment of the historic barn.

In particularly, the strange doorways and the unsightly panels beneath the 
windows look very modern and out of character with the barn and the historic 
home nearby. Even the railing leading up to the barn looks like a poor fit for a 
historic barn. Couldn’t those in charge of “the facelift” look toward other barn 
redevelopment projects that were done more tastefully and are more in keeping 
with the historic nature of the property? Finally, is Riverwoods planning on 
painting the adjacent historic home?  If not, how will the proposed color work with 
the existing colors of the nearby house?  

Particularly because the barn is highly visible from our gateway, I would urge the 
Commission to request that those in charge of the renovations design something 
that is more in character with a historic barn and will be in character with the 
nearby historic home (design and color). I encourage the Commission to offer 
some concrete design suggestions to the redesign team.

Respectfully submitted, 

Beth Olshansky

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