Wellesley Historical Commission Approves Two Demolition Waivers in Split Votes

WELLESLEY -- May 12, 2026, Wellesley Historical Commission approves two demolition waivers and preserves a century-old foursquare in marathon May session. The commission voted 4 to 3 to allow demolition to proceed at 37 Martin Road, where designer Mark Iacocca and owner-builder Fernando Del Fior had reduced the proposed house's width by two feet and lowered the ridge height roughly three feet to 183.42 feet, cutting the T-lag from 3,590 to 3,513 square feet. Secretary Larry McNally, voting in favor despite reservations, said the commission could not "prevent indefinitely something we don't find appropriate" and described the outcome as acquiescence rather than endorsement. The commission separately voted 6 to 1 to approve a waiver at 45 Mayo Road after the applicant incorporated nearly all requested design changes, and voted unanimously to designate the circa 1910 American Foursquare at 14 Heckle Street as preferably preserved under the town's demolition review bylaw. Applications at 10 Brewster Road, 38 Calvin Road, and 39 Emerson Road were all continued unanimously to June 8, with members citing a front-facing garage dominating the street facade at both Calvin and Emerson and mismatched roof pitches at Brewster.