rubenstone - Saving St. John Cantius.pdf7/12/22, 12:46 PM City of Northampton Mail - Saving St. John Cantius
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=fec0f72d97&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1737792202017905102%7Cmsg-f%3A17377922020179…1/1
Sarah LaValley <slavalley@northamptonma.gov>
Saving St. John Cantius
1 message
Sally Rubenstone <sallyrstone@comcast.net>Fri, Jul 8, 2022 at 9:42 AM
To: slavalley@northamptonma.gov
Cc: mhl@marthalyon.com
Dear CPC Members:
I am a 50+-year resident of Northampton who is concerned that the nature of our beautiful city is changing
as a growing number of storefronts and churches stand empty. While this is a complex problem that requires
multiple remedies, one clear-cut and important decision, which is easily within our grasp, is to save the
historic St. John Cantius Church. By providing Community Preservation Act funding to the O’Connell
Development Group, SJC can become an enduring link to Northampton’s past and will add to the charm that
once drew many visitors here but which, sadly, has begun to dissipate.
As a child of the Sixties, I am typically suspicious of “development groups” (and also of religion!). But I
view situations on a case-by-case basis, and this is definitely a time when the O’Connell plan to save SJC is
the right route for us to take. Similarly, I don’t live in Ward 3, where the church is located, so I speak as a
resident of a different ward who still wants what is best for the entire city.
Please approve the O’Connell funding so that this project can move forward and benefit all of us.
Thank you,
Sally Rubenstone
15 Sanderson Ave
Northampton, MA 01060
Sally Rubenstone
Senior Advisor, College Karma
Co-Author Panicked Parents’ Guide to College Admissions & other titles