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Braun talks about his new job
Banner Daily Update Tues. Jan. 8
By Pru Sowers
Banner Staff
PROVINCETOWN – “For a little town, there’s a lot going on.”
Russell Braun laughed at his characterization of Provincetown’s building industry, with its on-going struggle to maintain the town’s historic structures while allowing property owners some leeway in how those buildings are maintained and renovated. Braun is now at the head of that struggle, taking over for interim building commissioner Matt Mulvey in October. Braun had barely gotten his feet wet when Mulvey left, having only been hired as the town’s building inspector in June. But Braun believes he won’t have too much trouble settling in because his background includes most facets of the building industry.
“I’ve been a registered architect in Massachusetts since the early 1980s. I am a licensed construction supervisor. I’ve been in the building business in all of its forms since the 1970s. I know how to talk to designers, contractors, what the business people are concerned with,” he said.
Still, Braun acknowledges there are issues in Provincetown that don’t usually exist in other towns, including the fact many of the buildings are over 100 years old and do not conform to state and local building codes. That means property owners applying for a building permit have to take some additional steps not required in other towns, such as appearing before the Provincetown Historic District Commission and the zoning board of appeals.
Then there is the emphasis on conservation, which frequently clashes with developers’ plans. And, of course, there is the attitude of some long-time residents, who have taken New England reputation for independence to new levels. But Braun pointed out he has experience in the area, building a series of condominiums across from Pilgrim Lake in the Truro portion of Beach Point about two years ago. Complying with Truro’s zoning laws gave him insight into some of the challenges a building commissioner in the area would face.
“There wasn’t a huge learning curve in getting to know the community and its…,” he paused, looking for the right word, “… intricacies. But there is a uniqueness of the existing stock of buildings that doesn’t fit a particular mold, which makes, in many respects, applying the building code not an easy task.”
For more on this story see the Jan. 10 Provincetown Banner.
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Jan 3rd, 2008