Neighbors Save 21 Cambridge Road from Demolition

21 Cambridge RoadThe intervention of neighbors saved a 1924 Colonial Revival home at 21 Cambridge Road from demolition at a meeting of the Committee for Historic Preservation on February 24, 2026.

After a Pelham man purchased the home and filed an application to take it down, a group of neighbors rallied and did some research on the home to show that it met the Village’s criteria for preservation. After they presented their findings, the Committee voted 5-0 to deny the application to raze it.

In a detailed memo they argued that the home reflects the broad pattern of history and suburban development, it was designed by a recognized architect of the day and retains distinctive design characteristics and integrity.

Quoting from their memo they say, “Much of the immediate neighborhood was constructed in 1920’s, creating a recognizable period streetscape and a strong sense of place… 21 Cambridge Road is not an interchangeable structure: It is among the older homes in the area and remains a meaningful contributor to the neighborhood’s historic pattern of development.”

About its distinctive characteristics they write,

“21 Cambridge Road retains the key integrity that matters for a neighborhood of this era – its relationship to the street, its massing and scale relative to nearby 1920’s homes, and its contribution to the overall historic streetscape.”

They highlight the following:

-Dominant steep roof that establishes the home’s historic silhouette and scale
-Three aligned dormers, including two larger dormers with distinctive flared sides and Juliet-style railings.
-Balanced, symmetrical façade composition with historically consistent massing and lower flanking wings
-Prominent arched main entry surround that remains a focal element of the façade, consistent with 1920’s Colonia Revival design
-Wood shingles cladding o the street facing elevations
-Consistent multi-light window patterns with traditional shutters

Furthermore, they say, “Allowing full ldemolitio of a 1924 home in a predominantly 1920’s area accelerates loss of historic character and undermines the Village’s preservation objectives.

Finding that the home meets the criteria for preservation, the Committee voted 5-0 to deny the application.

Also on the agenda that evening were applications to raze 33 Garden Road, 69 Penn Boulevard and 3 Ridgecrest East.3 Ridgecrest East

The home at Ridgecrest East, designed by the same architect as 21 Cambridge Road, is sited in another historic area. When that application was adjourned, neighbors who turned up at the meeting left.

33 Garden Road is a beige brick home, built in 1963 with a pool and a tennis court. Ed Alisberg of Alisberg Parker Architects presented the application on behalf of the Cum Laude Group who plans to build a new home at the site.

The original application did not include the names of the architect/engineer which the committee only learned at the meeting. They therefore asked for the application to be adjourned for a month to allow for more research to be done on its provenance.

Last, an application to demolish a 5,768 square foot ranch style home on an acre on a corner lot at Penn Boulevard and Franklin Road was approved. Though some notable architects renovated it at different points in time, and there was even a hot tub in the living room, the committee did not find that it met the criteria for preservation.