Letter | Proposed Historic District Consistent with Town’s Master Plan

The following letter was sent to the Amherst Planning Board on August 17, 2026.

I am writing to ask you to support the proposed East Amherst Local Historic District.  Local Historic Districts (LHD) have successfully worked in Amherst and other cities and towns as a key strategy to maintain historic properties as they are used, reused, and change over time. LHDs do not stop development; they shape it in ways that both preserve our history and promote economic development. Residents are much more likely to support change, development, and densification when it preserves the look and fabric of their town and neighborhoods.  Tourists and visitors visit communities that are unique and have historic buildings, as shown by the many visitors to New England cities and towns that have protected their historic buildings and neighborhoods. In Amherst, we are lucky to have both a strong economy and many historic buildings, some built in the 1700s, and an old village center. These buildings and the village center are beautiful and still in use. Buildings such as the Emily Dickinson house, Austin Dickinson’s home, the Strong House, many buildings at Amherst College and UMass draw thousands of visitors and are part of the strength, beauty and history of Amherst.

The East Amherst Village Center has some of the earliest European settler housing in the area, historic businesses, and an historic church.  The buildings date back to the days when the church parsons were paid by town taxes and only male property owners could vote in Town Meeting. Historic East Amherst buildings are all still in use, although the uses have changed over time.  They are in zoning districts that allow greater density and size. The East Amherst Local Historic District will guide these changes in use and density, not stop them. Increases in building size, additions, and density will be harmonious.The LHD will also remove incentives to tear down buildings and replace them with cheap, boxy buildings, since any new construction must also fit in.  We can see how this has worked well in our other local historic districts.

I think it is important to note that the East Amherst Local Historic District directly implements the Amherst Master Plan and the Amherst Historic Preservation plan. These plans were enthusiastically adopted by the Planning Board, and it is, frankly, the Planning Board’s job to implement these plans.  So I hope that you continue to build on the hard work of past boards and throw your enthusiastic support behind the East Amherst Historic District.

Janet McGowan

Janet McGowan is a resident of Amherst’s District 5 and a former member of the Planning Board.

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Chapter 6, Natural and Cultural Resources, Amherst Master Plan

2023 Amherst Preservation Plan

Excerpts from Chapter 6 of the Amherst Master Plan:

OBJECTIVE NC.1 – Promote the preservation, appreciation, and

sustainable use of our historical and cultural resources for residents

and visitors.Historic and cultural resources foster a connection to the Amherst

community, generate a sense of pride among its residents, and attract visitors to

the Town. Appropriate protection and celebration of these resources will ensure

that the community’s heritage and unique character are preserved and passed on

to future generations. Implementation of the 2005 Amherst Preservation Plan and

the following strategies will preserve important community character for

Amherst’s future while acting as a crucial form of local economic development

NC.1.B [Strategy] Increase historic preservation protections in Amherst’s

zoning regulations, in order to encourage preservation, restoration,

and rehabilitation of historic and archeological resources.

A special historic overlay district is one example of a measure that could

provide specific development and design regulations above and beyond

regular zoning in order to protect areas of historic and architectural

significance in the Amherst community. Such measures could allow certain

land uses by right or offer incentives if the proposed use met minimum

historic standards. An overlay district or other measures could be applied to

existing National Historic Register districts, areas that have been proposed to

receive National Historic Register designation, and other historic resources

indicated by the Amherst Preservation Plan or deemed significant by the

Amherst Historical Commission.

NC.1.C [Strategy] Establish new local historic districts to provide enhanced

protections for our most significant concentrations of historic

resources…..The Town should develop separate local historic districts

that contain regulatory language capable of protecting historic resources in

ways that zoning cannot.