Massachusetts Home Assessment Holds Despite Historic Designation

A Holyoke, Mass., man failed to convince a state appeals court that creation of a historic district where he had purchased a home entitles him to a tax break.

“Having a home designated within a historic district is not a taking which entitles someone to compensation,” the Massachusetts Appeals Court held in an unsigned, unpublished opinion issued Monday. Alan Scheinman failed to show the city committed an unlawful taking by authorizing a permanent physical occupation or depriving him of all economic or beneficial use of his property, the court said.

• Scheinman bought the home in 2006 for $332,000, a year ...