Stover - CPA_ St. John Cantius, O'Connell Hawley LLC.pdf3/15/22, 12:02 PM City of Northampton Mail - CPA: St. John Cantius, O'Connell Hawley LLC
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Sarah LaValley <slavalley@northamptonma.gov>
CPA: St. John Cantius, O'Connell Hawley LLC
1 message
gerrit <gerrit@crocker.com>Tue, Mar 15, 2022 at 11:51 AM
To: Smolts123@yahoo.com
Cc: "Sarah LaValley, Preservation Planner" <slavalley@northamptonma.gov>
Dear Chair Adams:
I am writing to support the amended request for $500,000 in historic preservation CPA funding for restoration of St. John
Cantius Church.
Driven by a deep love of Northampton's historic and beautiful architecture and an abiding interest in its economic health, I
was involved in drafting of the Central Business Architecture ordinance.
I have closely followed the recent odyssey of St. John's fight for survival, including past applications for demolition
approval, and, more positively, the various proposals for its re-purposing.
I have read through both the original and the amended CPA applications from O'Connell Hawley LLC.
I offer the following observations, on the basis of the above interests, shared by many in the community (who may not be
aware of this application), and my knowledge of the building and its potential.
1. St. John's importance to Northampton's landscape and to its history is clear. Vigorous advocacy for its preservation
and re-use from both lovers of architecture, members of the church and Polish community, and from the public at large
attest to that fact.
2. All scenarios I have seen for the church's restoration and re-use, whether in private or in municipal or non-profit
ownership, recognized the need for public subsidy of some sort, whether in the form of direct grants or through historic
preservation tax credits.
3. I and some other members of the community might have preferred a more-community or arts-oriented use for the
church building. However, deferring to O'Connell's preferences for residential use seems acceptable and advisable for
the following reasons.
4. The proposed re-use will indeed add to Northampton's rental housing stock in an ever-tightening market.
5. With its neighboring development project and local presence elsewhere in Northampton, O'Connell has a vested
interest in the viability of any future use, and in maintenance of the building.
6. O'Connell can utilize its in-house expertise and contractor relationships to reduce costs in a way difficult or impossible
for other developers.
7. O'Connell has expended a good deal of money in investigating building conditions and restoration options and costs.
This, again, means that they have a head start that any other developer would incur considerable expense in replicating.
8. O'Connell's commitment to follow DOI historic preservation standards as a condition for CPA funding ensures a level
of integrity in the restoration of the church which would be unlikely under other circumstances: the consensus was that
historic preservation tax credits would not be available if the building interior were divided as most alternative re-use
scenarios require.
9. It is clear from recent history that approval of this funding is essential to preservation of St. John; without it, loss of the
building seems, unfortunately, inevitable.
While even this amended CPA funding request remains substantial, so is St. John Cantius. The church looms large --
physically and historically -- in Northampton's history and streetscape. Please approve this request and ensure that it
remains as an impressive and beautiful contributor to our community's character.
3/15/22, 12:02 PM City of Northampton Mail - CPA: St. John Cantius, O'Connell Hawley LLC
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=fec0f72d97&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1727381611290864843%7Cmsg-f%3A17273816112908…2/2
Sincerely,
Gerrit Stover
55 Fairview Avenue
Northampton