Nantucket Historical Commission advances three surveys, flags town-owned demolition proposals

Other Committee · Meeting of July 17, 2026

Nantucket Historical Commission advances three concurrent historic surveys and reviews a multi-use bike path impact study. At the July 17 meeting, Chair Rita Carr presided over officer elections — re-electing herself as chair, Angus McCloud as vice chair, and Abby DeMolta as secretary — before hearing that the phase one West Monomoy survey covering 365 properties has been completed, with phase two targeting approximately 256 Form B documents now underway; consultant Cleary Larkin of the Preservation Institute Nantucket said this summer's research is specifically tracing early Black land ownership in the neighborhood forward from the original 1726 West Monomoy plat shares. Easton Architects, presenting a Brant Point and Cliffside update survey, said approximately 50 Form Bs will be submitted for review by month's end, with the full project of roughly 120 to 140 inventory resources wrapping in September; the firm noted a mid-20th-century pattern of stripping Victorian architectural details from buildings, with some properties restoring them beginning in the 1990s.

The commission also raised concerns about the town's proposal to demolish two survey-listed structures — 39 Washington Street and 45 Okawa Street — with Holly, the town's preservation planner, noting the town is bound by the same demolition-delay bylaw it applies to private owners.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,019 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of July 17, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.