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North Easton National Register Historic District
Bounded by Main Street, Elm Street, and the railway right-of-way off Oliver Street, North Easton

This primarily residential district contains over 150 buildings and 6 notable landscaped areas; features industrial/transportation core, workers housing with commercial and government structures and outerbelt of large estates.

Thanks to the patronage of the Ames family, North Easton is a treasure trove of Henry Hobson Richardson's Romanesque Revival architecture.

Included in this discontiguous historic district are his Oliver Ames Free Library,Oakes Ames Memorial Hall, Frederick Lothrop Ames Gate Lodge, F.L. Ames Gardener's Cottage and Old Colony Railroad Station, all built between1877 and 1885.

National Historic Register Number: 87002598

H.H. Richardson,
Ames Free Library
North Easton, MA 1877

Click on the links below for information.

Please note all the information that is listed below is a link to another website or is information that is a matter of public record and may be viewed and copied at the Easton Town Hall.

Shovel Shop Comprehensive permit waiver request
requested by the developer May 15, 2008

Easton Historical Commission
Demolition Review Bylaw April 8, 2004

Town of Easton Zoning Bylaw
adopted at Town Meeting March 27, 1973 and including amendments through May 19, 2008

Initial Comments, - Application for Site Approval
Prepared by Development Team Review December 13, 2007

Town of Easton Selectman Meeting Minutes, 12/17/07
(reference to Shovel Shop page 2)

Town of Easton Selectman Meeting Minutes, 2/11/08 (reference to Shovel Shop page 4,5)

Town of Easton Selectman Meeting Minutes, 10/22/07 (reference to Shovel Shop page 2,3,4)

Town of Easton Selectman Meeting Minutes, 11/26/07 (reference to Shovel Shop page 4)

Town of Easton Selectman Meeting Minutes 6/16/08 (reference to Shovel Shop page 5,6)

Town of Easton ZBA Meeting Minutes 6/18/08
(reference to Shovel Shop page 1,2,3)

Join our e-mail list for meeting updates
 or email: info@responsiblegrowthforeaston.com 
for more info

Board meeting minutes that refer to Shovel Shop

Shovel Shop Review Begins,
Written by Paula Vogler, Easton Journal- Aug 22, 2008

Shovel Shop site drawings, rendered April 2, 2007

Letter to Town Administrator and Land Use Planner from
Easton Historical Commission dated March 14,2007

Letter to Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency from
Massachusetts Historical Commission dated June 6, 2008

Letter to Chairman of the Easton ZBA from
Consultant Woodard & Curran dated August 20,2008

Letter to Citizens from Architects Jay Wickersham, FAIA, Esq, & Chris Milford, AIA discussing the Threat to the Historic Ames Shovel Shop and H.H. Richardson Landmarks dated Sept, 12, 2008

Shovel Shop
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Environmental Notification Form (ENF) dated 10-15-08
Presentation prepared by "Friends of the Historic Ames Shovel Works at North Easton"
Response to Peer Review by Beals and Thomas dated 10-22-08
Developers consultants, Beals & Thomas response to comments presented by Woodard & Curran, the peer review consultant engaged by the Town of Easton.
Response to Peer Review by Woodard and Curran dated 10-24-08
Town Consultants, Woodard and Curran respond to comments presented by developers consultants,  Beals & Thomas . Summary of Response.
dated 10-29-08
Letter of Eligibility from Mass Housing dated April 29, 2008
Old Colony Planning Council Regional Transportation plan concerning Safety. For quick reading, click "edit", "find" enter Easton

The City of Brockton experienced the most crashes that resulted in fatalities within the study time-period with 118 crashes. Plymouth had the second highest with 67 fatal crashes. Stoughton had 32, the third most highest, followed by Easton with 29

Environmental Impact Report delayed until January 9th
by Vicki-Ann Downing, Brockton Enterprise November 22, 2008

EIR Delay Request to MEPA from Beals & Thomas
Owners of Easton shovel factory site may seek demolition permits
by Vicki-Ann Downing, Brockton Enterprise November 25, 2008
Response from Beals & Thomas to Woodard & Curran's comments  in Second Iteration of Peer Review dated December 1, 2008
Response from Gillon Associates to Beta Group's comments regarding the traffic study November 7, 2008
Response from Siegmund & Associates to Woodard & Curren's comments regarding the wastewater treatment facility November 11, 2008
MDM Transportation Consultants evaluation of peak parking requirements  November 24, 2008
MDM Transportation Consultants evaluation of site plan for safety vehicles and pedestrian traffic   November 24, 2008
Beta Group peer review comments regarding traffic review December 1 , 2008
Beta Group peer review comments regarding traffic impact assesment  January 23, 2008
Letter from Beals & Thomas to MEPA requesting  withdrawal of ENF 
December 5, 2008
Presentations prepared by the Friends of the Historic Ames Shovel Works at North Easton as shown on January 7th 2009
Preservation and Development Guidelines presented by the "Friends"
Alternative Development Scenarios presented by the "Friends"
Shovel Shop Development Plan as presented February 4, 2009
Shovel Shop Waiver request, February 3, 2009
A Shovelful of History: Preserving North Easton's Industrial Past as published in the New England Antiques Journal Feb 2009
Shovel Shop presentation by Historical Commission January 6, 2009
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April 28, 2009 National Trust for Historic Preservation Names Ames Shovel Shops in Easton, Massachusetts, to Its 2009 list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

In June of 2008, the Applicant presented a 40B proposal to the Easton Board of Appeals. The original proposal was for 182 apartment rental units and 35,000 sq ft of commercial space.

Below is a collection of public meeting minutes, newspaper articles and drawings, and plans and studies.
 
The public hearings closed on April 13th, 2009. The plan on the table at that time was for 160 rental units, 17 for sale condominiums and 15,000 sq ft of commercial space.

The Board of Appeals has 40 days to render their decision. There will be two more meetings in which the Board will be discussing the final project details with the Applicant. Those meetings on May 19th and 20th will be open to the public, however, there will not be any public comment accepted.

SHOVEL SHOP ARCHIVE REFERENCES:
July 8, 2009

The Applicant Appealed the ZBA's decision to the HAC (Housing Appeals Committee). The first hearing was July 8th and both sides agreed to speak with a mediator.

Read the Comprehensive Permit Decision
Read the Appeal letter

Neighbors File Suit against the ZBA and the Turners

May 20, 2009