Historical Commission votes 4-3 to allow demolition of rare craftsman-style bungalow 

The Historical Commission at its April 13 meeting voted not to delay the demolition of one of Waltham’s only craftsman-style bungalows, a style mostly associated with Southern California and relatively rare in Massachusetts. 

The owners of 135 Woerd Ave. appeared before the commission after a debacle involving the lead paint in their home. The cost of removing the lead paint as ordered by an inspector would approximately equal the cost of adding a second floor to the home, which was the renovation they had wanted. 

The owners didn’t know that both of these projects would erase the historical significance of their home. In fact, it wasn’t until commission chair Mort Isaacson gave his initial evaluation that they learned their property was listed on the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System. Although this listing doesn’t prevent demolition, it means an architectural historian found the home significant. 

The house is in The Island, a neighborhood of Waltham that was once an island surrounded by marshlands. Called Morse Island, it was a part of Newton until 1849 when Waltham purchased it for $1,000.

Isaacson said the bungalow style developed in the early 1900s as a reaction to the popular Victorian style. Bungalows are one story tall and stretch out horizontally, while Victorian homes stretch upward. The craftsman style, which features decorative woodwork and detailed joinery, also developed during this period.

Adding a second floor to 135 Woerd Ave., which was built in the mid 1910s, would destroy the architectural significance of the home’s bungalow style. Removing the lead paint that was present when the owners bought the house would destroy the craftsman elements present in the home’s interior, which equally contributes to its significance. Commissioners noted that lead paint cannot simply be painted over — it needs to be fully removed so as to eliminate the risk of exposure.

After a lengthy debate, the commission voted 4-3 to allow the demolition to go forward, letting the owners alter the property as they wish. 

Additionally, the commission: 

• Voted not to delay the demolition of 1128-1130 Main St. The owner wants to demolish the current structure, a two-family dwelling, to build a five-family dwelling. Although the commission agreed the structure was historically significant, it voted against preserving it because of the community’s need for housing. 
• Voted not to delay the demolition of 32 Maple St. The owner wants to tear down the structure, a one-family dwelling in the rear of 30 Maple St., to build a two-family dwelling. The commission agreed it was historically significant but not preferably preserved.
• Discussed an update that structural work has begun at the Wellington House, 735 Trapelo Road, with new Lally columns being installed in the basement to support the first floor.
• Learned that the city is seeking a 40B waiver from the Zoning Board of Appeals to allow two units of subsidized housing at Cardinal Cottage on the Fernald property. A public open house will take place April 22 from 3 to 4:30 p.m, and a ZBA hearing is scheduled for April 28.
• Voted to approve printing of a new Mill Village walking tour brochure and reprint 500 copies of each of the Boston Post Road and North Waltham brochures. 
• Voted to approve the FY2026 budget as submitted and the FY2027 meeting schedule, with the October meeting moved to the fifth. 

Brochure for the Cardinal Cottage open house.