Historic District Commission

Framingham’s Historic District Commission (HDC) is an appointed board of residents that oversees the preservation and stewardship of buildings in the city’s designated Local Historic Districts. The HDC reviews proposed changes to designated properties and works with property owners to balance the needs of modern living with the historic integrity of their buildings and surrounding neighborhood contexts.

HISTORIC DISTRICTS 

Local historic districts in Massachusetts have three main purposes:

1. To preserve and protect the distinctive characteristics of buildings and places significant to the history of the Commonwealth’s cities and towns.
2. To maintain and improve the settings of those buildings and places.
3. To encourage compatibility with existing buildings when new buildings are planned in the districts.

The purpose of a local Historic District Commission (HDC) is not to halt growth, but to allow for thoughtful consideration of change.

Framingham voted at its 1978 Annual Town Meeting to protect the Framingham Centre Common area and establish a local historic district for the area pursuant to MGL Chapter 40C. The Centre Common Historic District has been expanded since then, most recently in 2023, with the addition of 110 Edgell Road. Other Local Historic Districts include: 

• The Jonathan Maynard Historic District, established at 1994 Annual Town Meeting, 
• The Sarah Clayes House Historic District, established by 2008 Annual Town Meeting,
• The Pike-Haven-Foster House Historic District, established by 2016 Annual Town Meeting,
•  The H.H. Richardson Depot Historic District, established by 2016 Annual Town Meeting, and
• The John Hemenway Historic District, established by City Council in 2019. 

The most recent of these are each single-property districts. Lists of the included properties in all districts are below.

PURVIEW & PROCESS 

The HDC has purview over any changes to the exterior of a designated building that is visible from a public way. Such modifications require application to the HDC for a Certificate of Appropriateness, and an approved Certificate is necessary before beginning work. 

If the work is regular maintenance that maintains the design, materials, and finish of an element, a certificate is not necessary. The City’s Preservation staff can advise property owners about how to distinguish between projects that required HDC review. Email them here Version Options Historic District Commission Headlin PURVIEW & PROCESSPURVIEW & PROCESS PURVIEW & PROCESS PURVIEW & PROCESS PURVIEW & PROCESS or call: 508-532-5455

As property owners contemplate changes to their buildings, the following guidelines can be a helpful reference for evaluating specific elements, materials, circumstances, and approaches. (Link to Guidelines).

Once a project is ready for review, owners should file an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness with the City’s Planning and Community Development Department.

The HDC meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the month. Agendas for each meeting close several weeks in advance, so applicants should plan to submit their application and supporting documentation in enough time to afford proper review.

A brochure summarizing the HDC process can be found here Version Options Historic District Commission Headline.