Arlene:

I agree with Cindi.

As a former planner/zoning enforcement person in a municipal government,
and the department's records officer, as well as a records
adminstrator/archivist in the same city, there should be (unless
lost/destroyed) historical zoning maps, assuming that location was within
the bounds of the city/town at that point in time, as opposed to annexed
into the city/town.

Another possibility is the text of city zoning ordinances that created the
maps.  You will need to find evidence that two dwelling units existed in
addition to the zoning documentation.  You might consider consulting a
local attorney with experience in zoning issues.  They may know where to
find the info you seek.  Good luck.

Tod

Tod Chernikoff, CRM

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 12:41:06 -0500, LeMay, Cindi <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

Arlene - I'm from Connecticut and have a couple of thoughts.  I also own
a home built in 1905 which was a 3 family home at one point.  In
Connecticut, the deeds filed in the land records (Town Clerks office)
would indicate if the building was indeed zoned as a multi-family
residence.  Another thought is the Electric or Telephone company.  We
had a terrible time trying to figure out exactly which phone lines we
were using as there were 3 sets running through the house.  Along with
that, we still get our electric bill addressed to "Unit A" at our
address.

I think in Massachusetts they might be County Clerks instead of Town
Clerks, but I'd suggest your friend start there and follow the chain of
title. Back.

Cindi LeMay


-----Original Message-----
From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Arlene Bronstein
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 12:31 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Real Estate problem


To help a friend I am turning to all of you on this list for ideas. She
needs to find proof that her house, located in Cambridge Mass., was zoned
as a two family home back in 1930-1944. The town of Cambridge is saying it
wasn't (they changed their mind from what they had previously told her) so
selling is a problem.

She is trying to access census records and real estate records, but census
records do not prove it was zoned for two families. Does anyone have any
ideas what city/state records she could look for, or archives she could go
to, to try and prove that there were two separate domains in the house back
then? Thank you all.

Arlene Bronstein
Record Center Manager
Davis Polk & Wardwell

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