Northampton council hits pause on CPA request to save St. John Cantius

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NORTHAMPTON — A request from a Holyoke property developer for $500,000 in Community Preservation Act funds was referred to committee by the City Council on Thursday night after an outpouring of opposition from residents who said the project to fix the masonry envelope of St. John Cantius Church is not a proper use of taxpayer money.

More than an hour of public comment at the top of the council meeting focused on just two issues: the CPA money that would effectively save the historic church at 10 Hawley St. and usher in development of 10 housing units inside, and a proposal to open a new marijuana dispensary in Florence Center that has become a lightning rod in recent weeks for residents who want a cap on the businesses. (For that story, see page B1)

The St. John proposal, meant to stop the infiltration of water into the building, has already won the unanimous approval of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) and the Historical Commission, and some residents spoke Thursday in favor of the project as a public good. A City Council vote is the final step in the appropriation process.

“There was a lot of really interesting discussion. In the end, I was not surprised, but we voted to refer it to the Finance Committee,” which meets again on Sept. 21, City Council President James Nash said on Friday. The item could come before the full council again as early as Oct. 6.

Nash said that committee meetings allow councilors to speak directly with the public and answer their questions, unlike rules for the full council that do not allow back-and-forth discussions.

“That’s our best way for engaging folks,” Nash said.

Sarah LaValley, the city’s conservation and preservation planner, told the council that the funds come with a permanent historical preservation restriction for the building, which cannot be removed for as long as the church — vacant since 2010 — remains standing. The church was built by Polish immigrants and dedicated in 1913, according to a historic structures report commissioned by O’Connell at the CPC’s request.

CPC chair Brian Adams spoke to the council during the meeting’s public comment period, outlining the process by which members became familiar with the plan and, ultimately, came to agree with its historical preservation goal despite the fact that taxpayer money will go to a private developer to cover costs on a market-rate project.

“It was not without agony that we came to a unanimous conclusion,” he said, adding that “without our support, the building would come down. … Don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good. We all want the building to be used for another purpose, but that’s not the case. That’s not happening.”

Opposition turns out

Also during public comment, Florence resident Tracey Culver noted that in the past, the Community Preservation Committee denied Look Park’s application for CPA funds to rebuild the fountain at its entrance because, although the park is a nonprofit, it is privately owned. Construction commenced in September 2017 with money from visitor fees, donations and grants.

Culver said public money should not be used to benefit a private entity this time, either.

“How can the CPC allow the distribution of public funds to the Holyoke developers? Why no to Look Park, but yes to O’Connell?” Culver said. “I feel the CPC has betrayed the public trust and I think the current members should resign. I ask the City Council to restore that trust by voting not to fund this request.”

Nick Mottern, a resident of Strong Avenue, objected to the request, as well, and said the “high-income” housing project “needs a lot more thought.”

“This money is needed for other things that go much more to people who really need that kind of support from the community,” Mottern said. “Please count my vote as ‘absolutely no’ on the CPA spending.”

Mac Everett of Valley Street said the CPC should consider the precedent that it would set for city officials if the council finalizes the request.

“In exchange for preserving an intentionally neglected building’s exterior, we taxpayers are asked to help underwrite a private entity’s profit,” Everett said. “Let’s pause the process and take another shot at finding a way to save the church without violating the public’s trust in the CPA.”

Claudia Lefko, also of Valley Street, criticized O’Connell for “gentrifying the neighborhood” and making it less affordable with its prior housing developments.

“And now they want our tax money,” she said, personally imploring City Council President Nash, the ward councilor, to vote no. “We expect you, Jim, and the rest of the councilors, to have the best interests of the community, and to listen to our legitimate concerns, and vote appropriately.”

Fred Zimnoch disagreed, calling the request “the most favorable outcome” for those who want to preserve the church because the money comes with the requirement that its historic preservation restriction be held by the Northampton Historical Commission in perpetuity.

“It also preserves the streetscape that many in Ward 3 and the city admire,” Zimnoch said.

John Dunne of State Street said “historic preservation is a public good” for everyone, not just neighbors, and an appropriate use of CPA funds.

“In this city, it’s been used many, many times to purchase open space from private individuals,” Dunne said. “We lost every historic building on the state hospital grounds. We continue to have other ones that get knocked down because nobody cares. This is an important building and I think it should be saved.”

Brian Steele can be reached at bsteele@gazettenet.com.

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