O'Connell Development Group proposal.pdf8/23/22, 1:13 PM City of Northampton Mail - O'Connell Development Group proposal
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=fec0f72d97&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1741906332233263271%7Cmsg-f%3A17419063322332…1/2
Sarah LaValley <slavalley@northamptonma.gov>
O'Connell Development Group proposal
1 message
kavigretta <kavigretta@protonmail.com>Mon, Aug 22, 2022 at 7:35 PM
Reply-To: kavigretta <kavigretta@protonmail.com>
To: "smolts123@yahoo.com" <smolts123@yahoo.com>
Cc: Sarah LaValley <slavalley@northamptonma.gov>, Martha Lyon <mlyon.paysage@verizon.net>, Karen Foster
<kfoster@northamptonma.gov>
Brian Adams, Chair
Community Preservation Committee, City of Northampton, MA
Dear Mr. Adams:
We write to express both our concern and disapproval for granting an award of $500,000 in Community
Preservation funds to O’Connell Development Group, current owner of St. John Cantius church.
The C.P.C. should never condone what is essentially a bribe and one with long-term, negative repercussions for
the city. As it is developers hold far too much sway in Northampton, and once the C.P.C. establishes the
precedent of awarding funds to a developer, it’s not difficult to foresee more out-stretched palms.
Given the Historical Commission’s “approval” of the proposal (admittedly with significant strings attached for
which we are appreciative though we would have liked to have seen ODG sign on a dotted line), we can only
wonder if members of the HC had taken the time to consult the city’s CPC requirements:
"Many historic resources in Northampton are owned by private entities and individuals. Rehabilitation and
restoration are allowable CPA expenses under Historic Preservation regardless of ownership; private ownership
does not preclude the use of CPA funding. However, all CPA awards must be made to advance a public
purpose. Spending of any municipal funds to advance a private purpose would violate the Anti-Aid amendment
of the state constitution. A clear finding must be made that any work proposed is in the broad public interest, and
in the case of funding a private business, should also consider implications for future applications."
During the Historical Commission’s discussion of the O’Connell Development Group’s proposal, we heard no
reference to how the proposed historic rehabilitation would “advance a public purpose.”
We had wondered why Mr. O’Connell and his company hadn’t applied for Massachusetts Historic Restoration
Tax Credits—a program tailor-made for developers. The presentation at the August meeting of the Historical
Commission made clear that O’Connell Development Group has no interest in meeting the program’s more
stringent requirements. Why should the C.P.C. make back up funding available?
For the good of the community and the C.P.C.’s reputation, it is critical that the Committee vote “NO”!
Janet and Nicolas Gross
8/23/22, 1:13 PM City of Northampton Mail - O'Connell Development Group proposal
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=fec0f72d97&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1741906332233263271%7Cmsg-f%3A17419063322332…2/2
38 Round Hill Road
cc: Sarah LaValley
Martha Lyon
Karen Foster
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