Historical Commission OK’s Demolition of North Amherst Garage

Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Historical Commission, September 8, 2025

This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded.

Present
Robin Fordham (chair), George Baitinger, Kenzie Landesittel, Joel Greenbaum, and Hetty Startup. Absent: Pat Auth.

Staff: Walker Powell (Planner)

The Historical Commission engaged in a lively discussion about the merits of preserving a many-times remodeled seven-car garage at 134 Montague Road, owned by Cinda Jones. This writer’s guess is that it might have been the garage where the owner’s grandfather kept his automobile collection, as he was especially fond of his black Checker sedan produced by the iconic former taxi-cab manufacturer. To be preferably preserved, the Historical Commission must determine that the structure is historically significant because, for example, of its architectural distinction, its ownership history, or its connection to important events. If it is deemed historically significant, the commission can impose a demolition delay of up to one year. 

Gabrielle Gould, formerly Executive Director of the Amherst Business Improvement District, made the case for the owner because neither Jones nor her lawyer were available. Gould has been working with Jones on creating The Cellar Hole, an outdoor events space in the Mill District on the former site of her grandfather’s favorite barn. The Commission was told that the building under discussion no longer has any windows or doors, and that it has been remodeled so many times that nothing historic remains, arguing that it has served its useful life and should be torn down.

Historical Commission chair Robin Fordham said she hasn’t found any history about how or why the garage has been changed over the years. “There is no story line,” she said. Commission member Joel Greenbaum pointed out that he noticed at the site visit that the original 100-year-old interior framing construction is intact. The historic streetscape will be irreparably altered once this building is removed because the large apartment complex to the west will no longer be screened from view. All the trees screening the site have been heavily pruned or removed. He pushed for adaptive re-use of the structure perhaps for the kinds of shops that were once in the Carriage Shops–antiques, funky gifts once sold at the Mercantile, crafts, yarn, violin and guitar strings, etc.

Commissioner Hetty Startup also did not agree with the chair’s determination that the structure was not significant. “People have intervened over time,” she said, and stated that it is important to understand the [social] historical context for the changes. It sits in a historical part of North Amherst and what this one family has done over nine generations is important to retain.

Commissioner Kenzie Landsittel commented that the “nostalgia factor” is complicating the determination of historical significance. Commissioners felt that the garage would be torn down eventually, so a demolition delay was senseless. The commission voted 4-1 that the garage had no historical significance and can be demolished. Greenbaum was the only no vote.

Split Rail Recommended for North Cemetery Fence Replacement
A discussion on the North Cemetery fence ensued, because the proposed vinyl fence was deemed not historically appropriate. Two ideas were to use the existing granite posts connected by chains that will need minimal maintenance, as opposed to the existing deteriorated picket fence, or granite posts connected by split rails that can be removed and replaced easily one at a time as needed. The consensus was for the split rail option.

Fordham to Represent Historical Commission on CPA Committee
Fordham said she would happily continue to represent the commission on the Community Preservation Act Committee unless someone else wanted to take it on. 

The meeting ended with all the members introducing themselves to each other.