Historic Northampton cpcfollowupletter
July 8, 2008
Northampton Community Preservation Committee
Office of Planning and Development
City Hall
210 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Dear Members of the Community Preservation Committee:
It was our understanding that the CPC’s request for us to prioritize the projects in our
proposal was based on budget considerations and the need to accommodate multiple
nd
requests in a limited budget for the 2 round of CPA funding.
We understood these financial restraints and the desire to balance community needs.
Therefore we prioritized our project based, not on preservation priorities, but on the
convenience of a seasonal construction timetable with interior work to begin in the fall
and winter and funding for the exterior work to be requested in the first round of FY 09,
the work to begin the spring.
When we learned of the CPC’s decision, we assumed that our proposal as a whole was
approved, but that because of budget restrictions, was partially funded with the
understanding that we could reapply for the balance of the requested funds in a
subsequent cycle.
In the meantime we have had to address a number of the issues prioritized in the interior
work section of our proposal. Heavy rains have flooded basements several times causing
water damage, accelerating mold infestation, damaging electrical wiring and furnaces.
Roof leaks have also damaged interior walls and contributed to basement flooding. We
have already spent well into the five figures addressing these problems. We need to
address internal structural issues quickly. We realize that we cannot use CPA funds for
work already completed even if was in the original proposal.
Therefore we want to raise the funds for the interior work independently (we will hold a
special fundraiser in September) and apply the $105,000 granted by the CPA solely to the
exterior work as detailed and extensively documented in our proposal. All work will
conform to specifications, standards, materials and historical authenticity as detailed in
Appendix A of our proposal, “Report on Building Archeology at the Nathaniel Parsons,
Issac Damon and Russell-Shepherd Houses by the Society for the Preservation of New
England Antiquities”
As outlined in the original priority list, and detailed and documented in the proposal
narrative and appendices, this work will include:
1. Parsons exterior
Roof : 30,000
Clapboard replacement 13,800
Painting 18,000
Total prioritized Parsons exterior: 61,800
2. Shepherd exterior
Reclapboard & weather seal 26,000
Painting: 16,000
Total prioritized Shepherd exterior: 42,000
3. Damon exterior
Replace trim, clapboard, roofing, architectural details, flashing as required: 18,000
Painting: 20,000
Total prioritized Damon exterior: 38,000
Total prioritized Exteriors: 141,800
-105,000 CPA funds
36,000 additional funds to be raised for exterior work by
private means or reapplication in subsequent CPA cycle.
We understand that the funds are conditioned on the acceptance of a historic deed
restriction.
Sincerely,
Kerry W. Buckley
Executive Director