APD descriptions online

[Gordon Harris]

The Ipswich Architectural Preservation District (APD) is a proposal to protect the most historic areas of town. The District would be established by adoption of a bylaw at Town Meeting under the Home Rule Amendment of the Massachusetts Constitution and would be administered by an Architectural Preservation District Commission. The current draft encompass an area roughly defined as 223 acres beginning at South Green, continuing along the river to the Town Wharf, East and High Streets to the High Street Bridge, North Main Street and Meeting House Green. This area roughly corresponds with National Historic Districts in Ipswich: East End Historic District, South Green Historic District, High St. Historic District, and the Meetinghouse Green Historic District, with a small portion of the Ipswich Mills Historic District.

The APD proposal is based on the concept of a "Neighborhood Conservation District", an initiative proposed by residents in order to protect the character of the community and assure the compatibility of future construction and development.  The APD bylaw would prevent the destruction of our town's First Period and other historic homes.  Unlike traditional local historic district bylaws, the APD bylaw establishes advisory roles for the commission regarding changes to the exterior of structures and does not affect the interior or house color.

The Architectural Preservation District proposal will be reviewed and modified by a community group that will bring it to town meeting to be voted on in the fall of 2014. Download the 2010 draft APD proposal.The APD working group meets twice a month on Monday evenings, 7:00 pm in the Mary Conley Room, basement floor of the Ipswich Town Halll. The next meeting is Monday May 20, 2013. Email Ipswich Historical Commission chairman Gordon Harris to ask how you can help make an Architectural Preservation District for your neighborhood a reality. Read more about the APD proposal at the Ipswich Historical Commission site.