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ward - Re._ Preservation and Appropriate Repurposing of the SJCC.pdf7/6/22, 9:51 AM City of Northampton Mail - Re.: Preservation and Appropriate Repurposing of the SJCC https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=fec0f72d97&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1737469981972436444%7Cmsg-f%3A17374699819724…1/2 Sarah LaValley <slavalley@northamptonma.gov> Re.: Preservation and Appropriate Repurposing of the SJCC 1 message Marvin J. Ward <marvin.j.ward@gmail.com>Mon, Jul 4, 2022 at 8:21 PM To: Sarah LaValley <slavalley@northamptonma.gov>, mhl@marthalyon.com Cc: Carolyn Misch <cmisch@northamptonma.gov>, Laurie Sanders <lsanders@historicnorthampton.org>, emsharpe@historicnorthampton.org, Marie Panik <mpanik@historicnorthampton.org>, Deb Henson <debhenson.law@gmail.com>, Ward 3 Neighborhood Association <ward3northampton@gmail.com> To the Members of the Community Preservation Committee, the Historical Commission, and the Central Business District Architectural Committee of the City of Northampton: I am extremely concerned that some horrendous errors are very close to being made because you do not know all that you should about this historic building, and are being influenced by the owners' desires to create serious, extravagant, even, income from its site, fear heightened by a conversation I had with Joe Blumenthal at a recent Historic Northampton event for the Renovation and Repurposing of its Shepherd Barn (which is neither on its original site, serving its original purpose, or in its original state, for that matter, though is much older, of course). Deborah Henson recently discovered (Why this did not happen sooner is somewhat surprising to me!) and distributed the link to an important official document: a Massachusetts Historical Commission Form B - Building, dating from 2010, c. 12 years ago. I had only been aware of its MACRIS card-like entry/listing, which, for some reason, I cannot find now, is much less detailed, and had other errors as well, such as saying that its roof is in tile - that's only the case for the bell tower. Here is the link to it: http://archive.northamptonma.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=441734&dbid=0&repo=CityOfNorthampton&cr=1 I'm also attaching my Download of it. You should all examine, study, digest, and understand it, because it is accurate and correct in some details that I have found inaccurate and incorrect in most if not all other documents, and has a more thorough description. I am a medievalist, w/ a Ph.D. from UNC-CH, in a slightly later period (late 14th - early 15th centuries, this style is late 12th - early 13th, 2 centuries earlier) that includes French & English literatures (Geoffrey Chaucer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Chaucer] d. in 1400, the 1st yr of the 15th century, as a reference point.), and also art history, mostly manuscript illustrations, some 122 in all in 'my' 2 mss, produced in 1402 & c. 1420 in a famous workshop in Paris (The medieval art history prof, now retired, some of whose courses I took, was a member of my dissertation committee, and made laudatory comments about my work.). Specifically: the "Date of Construction" (often given as 1913, which is the date of its "Consecration") and the "Style/Form" (often given as "Romanesque Revival", appropriate for its construction time, and correct, in a sense, but far less precise architecturally-speaking; early Romanesque is also a valid description, but can in fact suggest a slightly later style). I visited the 2 Italian cities identified in the "Architectural Description" text on the "Continuation Sheet" as the regional source(s) for its style, during the spring prior to writing my dissertation, but did not spend a lot of time there or in their surrounding villages, so cannot confirm its accuracy, but believe it is correct. My other serious concern is the current misguided interest in putting residences inside it. This is totally inappropriate, not to say absurd, because it would destroy the very purpose of its design, which included the acoustics of its nave for carrying the chanting/singing (by priests; parishioners did not sing in those days) from its front through to its rear, not to mention its unique decoration. The alter, and the vestibule/stairway & balcony sections at the E & W ends are really architecturally add-on structures with lower ceilings. The windows are not tall enough to have a multi-story unit in it, and the partitions/walls would break up the space, destroying its acoustic. Neither are its dimensions adequate for multiple units!, but they are also too large for a single one/home. It's a 'pie-in-the-sky' concept! Just because it can be done/is feasible, doesn't mean that it should be done/executed; the climate, human species (homo sapiens, that isn't very sapient, it turns out!) & the planet are suffering from that kind of behavior having been overdone for far too long! Logic, reason, and restraint need to prevail!, and fit much better with historic preservation. If you examine the biographical sketches of the ODG executives [https://www.oconnelldevelopmentgroup.com/ about/leadership/], as I have done, you will not find the words "architect" or "architecture" in a single one. It is your 7/6/22, 9:51 AM City of Northampton Mail - Re.: Preservation and Appropriate Repurposing of the SJCC https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=fec0f72d97&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1737469981972436444%7Cmsg-f%3A17374699819724…2/2 responsibility as members of these Committees/Commissions to preserve every aspect of this historical building because of its status, and to be informed enough to ensure that, so it is not demolished/destroyed, including by inappropriate alteration or breaking up. I wrote a "Guest Column" about this for the Daily Hampshire Gazette in the Friday, 2 July 2021 edition, just over a year ago. I wish I had known of the Form B then, but there is nothing incorrect in what I wrote, just missing details... I suggested that a repurposing to a community/recital hall would be a relatively simple reuse, and would cost considerably less than the $4.6 mil estimate for the current ODG plan. Please note the 1st item on the "Continuation Sheet": There is an 'x' typed on the line preceding it, which means/suggests that there may well be yet another undiscovered document concerning this building, unless what follows is its content. Otherwise, where is the "National Register Criteria Statement form" that was to be attached? It needs to be discovered, revealed/made available, and studied before any decision is made! I believe I have the knowledge, if not the architectural credentials, to give advice for an appropriate repurposing, and will be happy to do so, no remuneration required! That's what real/true scholars do. They are usually not scoffed. I support the granting of CPA finds for the preservation/restoration of the exterior, because without it, the building will ultimately deteriorate into an unrecoverable condition/state. It would, of course, require the creation of a non-profit (not a difficult or expensive task to accomplish; I have created one, & only have a paralegal certificate [from Westfield SU]; Bylaws are required), & the creation of a management administration & staff to operate it, likewise, not a difficult task for such an owner: I live in a building, whose requirements are much more complicated and restrictive, managed by an ODG subsidiary .., so it should know how to accomplish that easily! I will try to attend any/all meetings of these Committees/Commissions in the near future when this subject is discussed. I hope to have notification thereof, but do not have a subscription to the Gazette because of constant delivery issues, and am no longer a citizen/resident of Northampton, tho' I am an active member of Historic Northampton, & I was a founding member of the W3NA. Thank you for reading, and for your attention, diligence, and service. You are welcome to share this with the owners, and anyone else you deem appropriate. Sincerely, Marvin -- Best regards, Marvin J. Ward, Ph.D. Cottage Square 15 Cottage St., # 413 Easthampton, MA 01027-6102 413-320-8145 I no longer have a land line; this mobile line deliberately does not have a voice mail box to avoid having to listen to & delete unwanted messages; telephone conversations must be pre-arranged. Hawley Street 10_Church.pdf 159K