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CPA 2015-2016 -2018 report (1) TO: Brian Adams, Chairman of the Community Preservation Committee Sarah LaValley and John Frey, Department of Planning & Sustainability, City of Northampton FROM: Laurie Sanders & Betty Sharpe, Co-Directors Date: July 6, 2018 Summary Since our last report (February 2017), we have continued to move forward with many of the tasks identified in the original 2015-2106 CPA grant and thanks to the CPC’s flexibility, we have also been able to shift funds to make improvements that are central to the museum’s capacity to preserve Northampton’s history. What follows is a summary of those activities: Damon House By the time the 2017 report was submitted, three of the most important projects identified in the original grant proposal for the Damon House had already been addressed: (1) the roof was replaced and new gutters were installed; (2) the interior walls of the front basement were cleaned, waterproofed and covered with sheet rock; and (3) the rotting windows in the back of the 1986 addition had been removed and those areas were covered with clapboards. Since then, we continued down the list of tasks. In fall 2017, we hired a mason to change the grade of the brick walkway to the main entry to eliminate the 1.5” lip on the veranda that was a barrier for people in wheelchairs or with walkers. Unfortunately the grade change is still not within the ADA standards (6 ¼% vs 5%), but we plan on remedying this during the next nine months as part of the renovations to the exhibit space. At that same time, we will add the ADA button to provide equal access to all. One of the other tasks identified in the 2015-2016 proposal was the replacement of the ornamental balustrade above the street entry of the Damon House. At the time of our last report, Kris Thompson had already removed the existing balustrade, which was in terrible condition, with extensive dry rot, damaged finials, missing paint, etc. With the old balustrade in his workshop, Thompson used it as a guide and during the winter of 2017 created a perfect replica. He and his crew installed the new balustrade in March 2017. In addition to these tasks, with approval from CPC staff, since February 2017, we: purchased and installed Fresh Air Kits that allow the furnaces to operate more efficiently and reduce the likelihood of ash, exhaust or other particulate entering the collections areas. purchased climate monitoring devices to track temperature in humidity levels in our collections storage areas; hired Rick Kershner, a museum climate expert, to guide us on improving the museum’s climate conditions (temperature & relative humidity) based on his observations and our data. Among his recommendations was double wrapping the heating ductwork, which we completed in 2018. This work, which was done in both the front and back basements, helped reduce passive radiation, thereby lowering the temperature in the basement storage areas and increasing the relative humidity. Other completed projects listed in previous report as “pending” were completed using funds from CPC grant 235-15 Installed waterproofing and insulation in the back basement Repaired moldy stairwell in back basement. Framed and sheetrocked walls around oil furnace(s) to protect collections in case of puff-backs, soot, etc. Removed, cleaned and organized remaining artifacts in back basement. Using private funds, during the last year we also painted the exterior of Damon House and repaired and painted several interior rooms. Next Tasks for Damon House With the funds remaining in this grant (~$25,660.66), we plan to: (1) add supports to the center of the Damon House and (2) repair the leaking bulkhead, which includes replacing a section of dry-rotted sill. These two tasks were listed in the original proposal; we plan to complete them by December 2018. Modifications: Brick veranda, stone patio and balustrade on main roof In the original proposal, one of the tasks was replace the failing brickway walk along the veranda. Based on our observations during the last two years, we’ve realized that this would be an imprudent use of funds. With new gutters, there is no longer an issue of water pooling on the tilted walkway and getting into the basement. Eliminating that water problem was the primary reason to do this work. Furthermore, after two years of working at Historic Northampton, we have come to appreciate that no one uses this brick veranda. It’s too narrow and long. Plus it is in non-compliance with ADA. Therefore, instead of the expensive demolition and replacement work described in the original grant, we now plan to remove the brick and build a new outer wall, enclosing this space and creating much-needed storage for chairs, exhibit cases, preservation items, etc. Some of the new storage will be accessible from the outside, but most of it will be accessible from the interior. To help us design this project, we have hired Florence resident and architect Dorrie Brooks. In terms of the uneven, non-ADA compliant Goshen stone patio that is adjacent to the existing brick veranda/corridor, we continue to solicit input from landscape architects, contractors and potential users (i.e. theater, dance, music, educators) on its redesign. At this point, we have not yet made a final decision, but our focus is to make sure the future patio is ADA compliant, functional, in line with our mission and within our budget. Finally, we are moving ahead with the balustrade on the main roof of the Damon House. At this point, we have received one estimate for its repair and reconstruction. We are waiting for bids from other qualified contractors and plan to attend a Northampton Historical Commission meeting to discuss options for the project’s construction materials in more depth. Parsons House Since our last report, we replaced and painted the decking on the small side porch, made temporary repairs to the rotting or missing mullions, graded, loamed and seeded the back of the Parsons house so that water now drains away from the building, painted the exterior of Parsons House, installed new gutters, and completed an archaeological dig near the historic cistern. We have also been working on a parking lot and driveway project, which ties into the grading work that we are planning for the northeast side and front of the Parsons House. Currently the northeast side of the building has asphalt close to it and the lowest clapboards are either at or just slightly above the soil layer. The front of the building has a similar issue, with soil at or slightly above the clapboards and surrounding grades that cause the water to run toward the building. The redesign of the driveway will allow us to move drainage away from the building by (a) removing the asphalt and creating more pervious surface, and (b) changing the so that the clapboards are not in contact with the soil and water drains away from the building. In addition, we plan to regrade the land along the southwest front of the house. This work will coincide with the removal of a large, failing sugar maple (2 large limbs have already fallen on or near the Parsons House). By removing the sugar maple, we’ll be able to regrade the southwest side of the Parsons House too. All of this regrading will go a long way towards ensuring its preservation. Finally, we are working with local architect Tris Metcalfe on an architectural access report so that Parsons House can be re-opened for public programs by 2020. Remaining Funds Aside from the specific tasks identified in the original grant proposal (repair of bulkhead, installation of center supports), we will request approval from the CPC to address other important tasks that were not specified in the original proposal, but are key to Historic Northampton’s continued revitalization.