Commission Delays Demolition of 1865 Brown Street Duplex

Historical Commission · Meeting of October 5, 2026

WALTHAM — The Waltham Historical Commission voted 5-0 to delay demolition of a circa-1865 worker's duplex at 65-67 Brown Street for up to a year. Chair Mort Isaacson and the panel found the two-family house, built by the American Waltham Watch Company for employees, part of a matched grouping of four duplexes central to the South Side's 19th-century development. Developer Marcelo Franca and architect Dawan Campos said the house is "not in good shape" and proposed a wider replacement; Vice Chair Rebecca Migdal said "I don't think that picking and choosing bits and pieces of this house helps preserve the history." The commission also voted 4-0 that a vacant 1987 office building at 1000 Winter Street is not historic, clearing the way for BXP's plan to replace it with 283 apartments under the city's new RCI Zoning Overlay.

The panel separately authorized a $29.95 display rack purchase for tour brochures.

In the full story:

• Roll Call and Minutes
• Demolition Delay Hearing: 65-67 Brown Street
• Development Review: 1000 Winter Street (Bay Colony/BXP)
• Stonehurst and Wellington House Updates
• CPC Report: Gore Place Window Restoration
• Historic Inventory and Education and Outreach
• Old Business: Officer Elections and 107-111 Central Street Tour
• Fernald Veterans Housing Proposal
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,470 words

Source: the Historical Commission meeting of October 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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