Author Of Article 72, A Petition To Raise The Threshold For Historic Demolitions, Asks For Town Meeting Support

To the editor: At Town Meeting, I will be asking voters to support Warrant Article 72.

Article 72 raises the approval threshold for demolishing historic structures from a simple majority to a two-thirds vote, requiring stronger consensus on the HDC before contributing historic structures are erased from the island’s history.

Nantucket has always been defined by its historic buildings and streetscape — simple details that showcase the quiet dedication of generations of craftsmen who built and cared for them. Every time one disappears, we lose a piece of that history for good.
Article 72 will not stop development. Projects can still move forward. It won’t block new housing or prevent thoughtful change—it simply requires a higher level of consensus before demolition.

Article 72 is a bylaw amendment, but it will be strongest if the Special Act creating the HDC is updated to reflect the change. At the advice of Town Counsel and our Town Meeting Moderator, I am amending the article by authorizing the Select Board to file a home rule petition to ratify and confirm the vote of Town Meeting. This way, we can be confident that if Article 72 passes, it will be ratified by the State Legislature.

I was born and raised on Nantucket and served seven years in Special Forces with multiple combat deployments. Since coming home, I’ve done my best to continue serving this community. I’ve committed myself to traditional building practices, and it has been one of my greatest honors to work on many of our island’s oldest structures. I’d appreciate your support in voting yes on the amended Article 72.

Hollis Webb