Yesterday I wrote a post about a blog I found that talked about a couple building a new downsized house next door to their old Big House in Concord, Massachusetts. And I wondered about possible problems with any historical district rules. That’s enough of a recap for here; the original post is right under this one, or if you don’t want to scroll, click HERE.

Well . . . I checked back in today and guess what? Yes, a new post talked about the HDC being concerned with the color of the house. It is blue; I think it is a light blue, but that still puts in the category of blue as in Red, White & Blue. An American color scheme, dontcha know?

One of the homeowners wrote: While people have grumbled about the paint color and the HDC is on the warpath again . . . And when that happens, all manner of things will be well. We will just be another house on Main Street. Albeit the blue one.

The HDC puts out a 95 page guideline pdf (HERE), in which pictures may be found. Some of the houses appear to be in the blue family. But, to make sure everything is in the appropriate spirit, details are listed.

The Act states that the Commission “shall pass upon the appropriateness of changes in exterior color features of buildings and structures within the his- toric districts wherever such features are subject to view from a public street, way or place.”
A hearing before the Commission is not required to repaint a building or structure the same (existing) color.
A hearing before the Commission is not required to change the color of the building or structure provided that the chosen color scheme is in keeping with the period and style of the building or structure from the historically ac-
curate list available in the Commission office and the choice is confirmed by the Commission staff. A written rec- ord of the appropriate color choices, along with sample chips, is required to go on file. Please consult Commis- sion staff. If it is determined that the colors are proximate to those on the Approved List, given the architectural style, the owner will be informed in writing that a hearing is not necessary. Any other color choices require a hearing before the Historic Districts Commission at one of its regularly scheduled meetings with samples of color choices.
Color compatibility with adjacent structures should be considered in choosing your colors to promote vis- ual harmony of the streetscape. How- ever, several houses with identical color schemes in one area may not be appropriate.
Additional procedures on preparing for a paint color hearing, copies of the “pre-approved” appropriate color list, and additional resources on choosing historic paint colors are available for review in the Commission office.

The guidelines pdf. actually quotes Henry James right at the get-go of it’s no-no list.

“Putting the three or four biggest cities aside, Concord, Massachusetts, had an identity more palpable to the mind, had nestled in other words more successfully be- neath her narrow fold of the mantle of history, than any other American town.”
Henry James, The American Scene, 1907

I don’t know but maybe he meant to say “more palpable to the narrow mind”.

I have ancestors who were in the Revolutionary War. I would like to think they were fighting for the right to say, “I don’t like that color” as opposed to, “You can’t have that color.”

Gosh, we can really get worked up here at the Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse. Maybe we’ll use some of this energy to put a pink flamingo out front.