Panel backs housing RFP despite barn loss

Historic District Commission · Meeting of April 27, 2026

MENDON — The Mendon Historic Commission and Local Historic District Commission backed a town plan to seek developer proposals for one to five affordable housing units on the Paddock Property, even though officials say its barn cannot be saved. Town Planner Dylan Lindholm said the RFP, covering about four acres of the roughly 36-acre site, will go out within two months and give extra credit to developers who salvage the barn's lumber or siding. The Local Historic District Commission voted unanimously to approve minutes from Jan. 29, Feb. 23 and March 23.

Members also flagged that a state DOT road project could endanger a Civil War monument and Post Road marker on Route 16 and said they would ask project manager Kimberly Sloan to brief them. A pest inspection found severe powder post beetle damage at the Olney Cook Shop, with repairs estimated at "$10,000, $20,000."

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Mendon's community access TV: Historic District Commission meeting, April 27, 2026
• The complete report: 747 words

Source: the Historic District Commission meeting of April 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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