The Northborough Historic District Commission voted 5-0 on April 16 to declare the barn attached to 6 Reservoir Street not historically or architecturally significant, and to notify the select board and town inspector that a demolition permit may be issued.

The decision followed a public hearing in which the commission reviewed a contractor report describing extensive structural problems. Bob Light, chair of the Northborough Historic District Commission, opened the hearing by noting the property’s main house dates from 1781 and is a witness house, but that the attached barn’s age and condition were unclear. “This barn and its additions are not worth saving,” Light summarized, citing a Colonial Restorations report that estimated stabilization would “easily cost $75,000 to $100,000.”

The report, provided to the commission and discussed at the hearing, described post-and-beam framing with numerous unsound additions, cracked concrete slabs, varying rafter sizes and roof sag. Light said assessor records listed an “effective year” of 1982 that reflected renovation dates rather than original construction, leaving the barn’s age uncertain.

Owner Lisa Orr told the commission she has tried to preserve parts of the property and has salvaged historic items from the barn, including beams and signage from the former Fawcett apple farm. “I am very honored to be the steward of this property,” Orr said. She described plans to replace the deteriorated structure with a functional metal building of roughly the same size and shape and said she has saved many historic artifacts for reuse or display.

Neighbors who spoke during the public comment period supported demolition. Tracy Horgan, who said she lives at 17 Rutherford Street across the street, called the existing sheds “ramshackle” and said the proposed replacement would be “far nicer” and safer. Michael Horgan, also a neighbor, told the commission he had observed areas of advanced rot and little true foundation under parts of the barn, and said his greater concern was protecting the historic main house should the barn collapse.

Commission discussion focused on two questions: whether the barn met the 100-year threshold for consideration and whether it was architecturally or historically significant even if old. Light and another staff member who visited the site with the owner and the contractor emphasized visible severe deterioration and haphazard later additions. Given the condition and the contractor’s assessment, Light said he would not consider the barn historically or architecturally significant and recommended against imposing a demolition delay.

A motion that “the barn attached to 6 Reservoir Street is not an historically or architecturally significant building, and the historic commission shall notify the select board and inspector that the inspector may issue a demolition permit for the barn” was moved and seconded; the roll-call vote was 5-0 in favor. Commission members who voted yes were Commissioner Brian Smith, Commissioner Leslie Harrison, Commissioner Brian Swanson, Commissioner Millie Milton and Chair Bob Light. Following the vote, Light said he would write to the select board and the inspector to notify them of the commission’s finding.

The commission’s action is procedural: it does not itself issue a demolition permit but notifies the select board and the town inspector that the commission has determined the barn is not significant under the commission’s criteria and that a permit may be issued. The main 1781 house will remain, the owner said, and she confirmed she has preserved and will retain historic materials salvaged from the barn.

The commission did not adopt any conditions related to salvage or documentation beyond the owner’s statements that she has saved historic items and that the house will remain. The contractor’s report and the commission’s site visits are part of the hearing record.

The commission closed the public hearing after the vote and moved on to other agenda items.