14. REPORT, Committee on Appointments & Briefings, recommending that the City Council Grant the Demolition of 13-19 COMMERCIAL STREET (Map 47/Lot 189). 

14a. COMMUNICATION/DEMOLITION, New Bedford Historical Commission to City Council RE: BUILDING DEMOLITION REVIEW 13-19 COMMERCIAL STREET (Map 47/Lot 189) Circa 1790 timber-frame building and 1851 wood-frame south addition, the buildings are architecturally and historically significant, representative of the City’s rich whaling and fishing industry, linked to the marine industry for 176 years, and associated with the long term ownership by the Beckman family; the property’s rehabilitation has been carefully reviewed and permitted by the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and the Historical Commission; the project is utilizing Federal and State Historic Tax Credits and has been approved for over $1.7M in rehabilitative tax credits for this project and as such, has been reviewed by the National Park Service and the Massachusetts Historical Commission; the property is located within the Bedford Landing Local Historic District and at its March 14, 2022, meeting was issued a Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the ca. 1790 timber-frame building and ca. 1851-wood-frame south addition; the demolition does not adversely affect the 3-1/2 story wood-frame gable roof structure facing Route 18, or the adjacent “stone” buildings to the west, therefore, “in light of these findings, the New Bedford Historical Commission has determined that the buildings at 13-19 Commercial Street are Historically Significant but not Preferably Preserved historic buildings”. (Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings - April 12, 2022.)