Here are photos from perhaps the latest Wellesley teardown (it’s hard to keep up), which took place on Wednesday.
The well-maintained bungalow-style home at 15 Curve St. (as described by Swellesley reader DennisM) was built about 100 years ago, and stood next to another recent teardown (See “Wellesley home with Booker T. Washington history goes down”). The home at 15 Curve St., sold for about $1M earlier this summer.
MORE: Wellesley Historical Commission posts petition to slow down teardowns
Why can’t the houses built to replace the teardowns honor the historical architecture and character of the original homes? So many of the new builds are boxy, ill-proportioned, sterile, and completely devoid of personality. They stick out like sore thumbs, drawing negative attention for how starkly they stand out in contrast to the thoughtfully designed older homes.
I’m sure the ugly, boxy look is cheaper to build, but I would venture a guess that the people buying these houses and tearing them down can afford to invest their money in well-designed, attractive, and historically accurate new builds using modern materials that make them energy efficient and easy to maintain.
I wish the older generation could see the importance for some teardown. Many of these homes are extremely inefficient to maintain, heat, or provide basic conveniences for.
Most naysayers assume that just because a home has character and is a fond memory of previous generations, that it should be preserved. This is despite the fact that most young families, which are the backbone of the future of the town, couldn’t and won’t opt for a costly home that is not child friendly, nor practical to own.
I
Having grown up in wellesley and know these houses breaks my heart.
Wish the new generation could see the charm and value in the older homes.