Local Historic Districts are established and administered by a community to protect the distinctive characteristics of important areas, and to encourage new structural designs that are compatible with the area’s historic setting. Once a local historic district is created under Massachusetts law (MGL Ch. 40C), a local historic commission is appointed to review all applications for exterior changes to properties within the district. This design review process assures that changes to properties will not detract from the district’s historic character.
Local Historic districts provide much stronger protection to the character of a neighborhood than the National equivalent and are part of the reason that Salem retains the rich architectural heritage found in the districts shown.
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