To answer this question, your friend needs to know WHO had the power to
set zoning in the 1930s and 1940s.   For example, if it was the city
council,
then their minutes need to be reviewed.   If it was a zoning board, then
their
early minutes, etc.    She also needs to review the history of the
house...is
there an abstract to the property...she needs to identiy who has owned or
lived in the house and then check county clerk for official records such as
mortgages, and the like....as there may be hints in descriptions that give
zoning information.    Perhaps the local paper ran zoning notices or ads
in the period, too.

Dean


Dean DeBolt
University Librarian
Special Collections/West Florida Archives
John C. Pace Library
University of West Florida
11000 University Parkway
Pensacola, FL  32514-5750
850-474-2213
850-474-3338 (fax)


-----Original Message-----
From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Arlene Bronstein
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 11:31 AM
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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