A Win For Preservation

The city has updated the Demolition Delay Ordinance

In 2005, Newburyport, like many Massachusetts communities, adopted a demolition delay ordinance to protect historically significant buildings. On the rare occasions  that the 12-month period has been imposed by the local historical commission, it has not dissuaded developers from razing historically significant buildings to build more profitable buildings.

The Newburyport City Council met on May 11, 2026 and voted to extend the delay period to 18 months. They also defeated an amendment to change the minimum age for screening resources for possible preservation to over 100 years. The screening period will remain 75 years.

Newburyport’s exceptional collection of historic houses, not just its historic downtown, did much to fuel its economic revitalization since the 1970s. Ironically, the resulting fashionability of the city has put those same houses at great risk as land values have sped upward.

The vote was a rare victory for historic preservation over intense financial pressures. It was thanks to our members, residents, and real estate professionals who took the time to appear before the Newburyport City Council and advocate for this important update.

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