Historical panel votes to lift Stoneleigh Circle delay

Historical Commission · Meeting of June 17, 2026

WATERTOWN — The Watertown Historical Commission voted 4-0 to lift an 18-month demolition delay on a house at 22 Stoneleigh Circle. Chair Elise Lupus and members Rich Glenn, Jamie Gordon and Joseph Panto approved the lift after questioning applicant representative Mike Menna and architect Alexandra Peterson on a redesign that keeps the first floor and brick facade while adding a story and a half. Commissioners disputed which section of the demolition delay ordinance applied since the owner never sought a buyer, with the chair arguing the owner himself could satisfy the "willing to preserve" standard.

The chair warned Menna "it better damn well be exactly the first floor" if preservation was promised, and conditions now require replicated columns, flat gable paneling, white window frames and reused brick, submitted as formal plans for staff and chair approval. Members Andrew Thompson and Matthew Walter were absent.

In the full story:

• Call to Order, Remote Participation and Roll Call
• Approval of May 14 Minutes
• 22 Stoneleigh Circle: Hearing on Lifting the Demolition Delay
• Agent's Report and Upcoming Subcommittee Hearing
• Community Preservation Committee Liaison Update
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,632 words

Source: the Historical Commission meeting of June 17, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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