10.     REPORT, Committee on Appointments & Briefings, recommending to the City Council to Grant the DEMOLITION of 2904 ACUSHNET AVENUE, (MAP 130D, LOT 247), TWO STORY RESIDENCE AND BARN STRUCTURE.  

10a.     COMMUNICATION/DEMOLITION, New Bedford Historical Commission, to City Council, re: BUILDING DEMOLITION REVIEW OF 2904 ACUSHNET AVENUE, (MAP 130D, LOT 247) a Circa late nineteenth century two-story residence and barn structure – advising that “the structures are historically significant due to their association with members of the Spooner family who settled in this location from Plymouth in 1660, eight years after the “Old Dartmouth” land mass was purchased from Wamsutta in 1652, the Spooners were a well respected farming family whose vast land holdings were primarily located in the subject area, north of Acushnet Village; the residential structure, although associated with the Spooner family, has been altered, the barn, which retains its original form, massing and materials, is a good example of its regional barn type and is significant due to its connection with the Spooner family, its long term agricultural use, and is representative of New Bedford’s early rural character, the property lacks in integrity, as it no longer possesses its historic qualities of setting and feeling, the land surrounding the subject parcel is no longer used for agricultural purposes and due to its location bordered by commercial development and its current Mixed-Use Business Zoning; it is no longer attractive as a residential use, additionally, the barn currently lacks context due to its commercial surrounding and will not likely experience adaptive reuse, “in light of these findings, the New Bedford Historical Commission has determined that the structures at 2904 Acushnet Avenue are historically significant, but not preferably preserved historic structures.” (Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings – April 12, 2018.)