The Final Landmark Designation Report for Miss Markham’s School at 10 Buckingham Street on the Buckingham, Browne & Nichols (BB&N) Lower School campus

Introduction and Context

This landmark designation study was originally written to include three buildings that comprise the origi- nal building of the Buckingham School and as well as the structures on the north side of Buckingham Place, a residential enclave developed in the early 1890s. The Cambridge Historical Commission deter- mined that all three buildings were significant for the purposes of the demolition permit review ordinance, Ch.

2.78, Article II of the City Code, and subsequently had the buildings under study for designation as landmarks under Ch. 2.78, Article III. The Commission and BB&N have worked productively on several previous projects, including the resto- ration of the former St.

Anne’s convent (1870) at 15 Craigie Street, the renovation and addition to the Deane House (1858) at 80 Sparks Street, at the Middle School, and the repeated relocation and preserva- tion of the Sloyd wood studio (1932) at the Upper School at 80 Gerry’s Landing Road. BB&N invited Historical Commission staff to meet on site in June 2021 to discuss the school’s plans for renovation, new construction and demolition at the Lower School campus.

Staff toured the school with school administrators and their design professionals, who described the changes to operations since the onset of COVID-19. They introduced a proposal to demolish 4 and 6 Buckingham Place and to relocate and make major alterations to the original Markham School building at 10 Buckingham Street. At a sub- sequent meeting the Markham Building was also identified for demolition and replacement.

BB&N repre- sentatives acknowledged that they had considered applying for demolition or relocation of the Percy Bridgeman house at 10 Buckingham Place but had abandoned that plan in light of its National Historic Landmark status. On November 10, 2021, the Commission held a public hearing on the demolition request for the three buildings.

BB&N representatives described their plans to demolish the two houses, remove the additions to Markham and rebuild it on its existing site (re-using elements of it if possible), renovate Brick (the 1920 classroom and gym building), relocate the playing field to the site of 4 and 6 Buckingham Place, and construct a new Meeting House for use as a cafeteria, gym and all-school assembly space. BB&N was then in the process of purchasing the 1893 William Griswold house at 5 Buckingham Place.

They indi- cated that the Griswold house could serve as swing space during the construction project but that no long- term plans for the property had yet been decided upon. The Commission voted to find the three buildings (Markham, Kelsey and Morrison) preferably preserved in the context of the plans presented, and a one-year demolition delay went into effect. Commissioners encouraged the applicant to study possible alternatives to demolition of the three buildings and return af- ter further design development.

Staff suggested the school undertake a full zoning analysis of the project and meet with the Community Development Department about the application of institutional expansion provisions of the zoning code. More detail would be needed for the Markham building project. If partial demolition were to be approved, the building should be studied forensically to document the presence of the original structure.

During the one-year demolition delay CHC staff met with BB&N representatives on January 19 (with Cambridge Community Development staff) and August 17 and September 12, 2022. Staff were invited to tour the three buildings to observe their deficiencies for modern academic purposes. The BB&N team ex- plained that their program required the demolition of the two houses and possibly Markham as well. All three meetings were held at the Lower School campus.

According to its usual practice, the Commission scheduled a hearing in the month preceding the expira- tion of the demolition delay to consider whether to initiate a landmark designation study for the proper- ties. At that October 6, 2022 hearing, the Commission heard an update from the school on their campus plans. A design study for a new building on the Markham site was presented by architect Jean Carroon of Goody Clancy. The campus master plan called for a major interior renovation of Brick and construction 4

of a new Meetinghouse building on the field behind 15 Craigie Street. The school explained that access to the site through Buckingham Place would be the least disruptive means of carrying out the anticipated work. The sites of 4 and 6 Buckingham Place would be used for staging during construction and ulti- mately would become a replacement playing field.

BB&N Master Plan as of 2022, showing Markham, Kelsey and Morrison demolished and a new Markham Building (circled). BB&N subsequently announced that it had no current plans to construct a new Markham Building “BB&N Lower School Project, October 6, 2022” During the landmark study, staff again met on campus at the School’s invitation on March 9, July 19 and September 13, 2023.

As before, staff acknowledged the validity of the administrators’ concerns but urged them to recognize the significance of the three buildings and consider partial preservation alternatives, a few of which were discussed and rejected. Although the School’s October 6, 2022 presentation allowed for the possibility, the administrators stated that they had studied the impact of restoring or relocating Markham but could not find a feasible way to do that and fulfill the School’s educational mission.

They now wished to completely remove it. They suggested that their board might withdraw the demolition ap- plication for Markham if the Commission agreed not to pursue landmarking but would not commit to re- storing or relocating it once funds were raised for a replacement.

In a September 19 email to parents and alumni, BB&N asked for community support to oppose landmark- ing because, “the Buckingham Place buildings are not able to be renovated in a way that advances our school’s mission.” Goals for accessibility of all buildings, greater energy efficiency, a hot-lunch program and an increase to open space on the campus were described in this e-mail.

CHC staff notified abutters on Buckingham, Craigie, Healy, Parker and Sparks streets of the public hearing advertised for October 5, 2023. At a public hearing on October 5, 2023 the Commission received presentations from CHC staff and repre- sentatives of BB&N. The School argued that the three buildings were no longer suitable for educational purposes and could not be adapted in any useful way. (The School’s plan for the site was unchanged from 5