Commission Rejects Historic Status for Gleason House

Historical Commission · Meeting of July 9, 2026

WATERTOWN — The Watertown Historical Commission voted 3-2 against finding a 1931 house at 34 Gleason Street historically significant, clearing the way for demolition. Chair Elise Lucas and member Jamie Gordon voted in favor of significance; members Joseph Panto, Rich Glenn and Matthew Walter voted against, with Andrew Thompson absent. Builder Matt Marino presented plans for a roughly 3,000-square-foot replacement home after owners Mike and Catherine documented a cracking foundation, water damage and outdated systems in the house, built in 1931 for $5,000.

Gordon argued "I think this is significant, architecturally," while Walter said the house didn't "come to the level of the declared by us." The commission separately heard that a city council subcommittee is weighing whether to exempt city-owned properties from the same demolition delay review, a change Lucas said she opposes.

In the full story:

• Roll Call and Minutes
• Public Hearing: 34 Gleason Street Significance and Demolition Delay
• Building Committee and Preservation Plan Update
• Agent Report: Demolition Delay Ordinance Subcommittee and Administrative Code
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,776 words

Source: the Historical Commission meeting of July 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.