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2023.02.27 Staff Report.pdf To: Historical Commission From: Sarah LaValley Re: February 27 2023 Historical Commission Staff Report Request for Support of CPA Application - Historic Northampton Collections Preservation The buildings at Historic Northampton are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and rehabilitation and restoration work there is eligible for CPA funding. To confirm CPA eligibility of the collections, the Commission must determine that those resources are “significant in the history, archeology, architecture, or culture” of the City. 5:45 PM – Public Hearing: To determine whether 67 Park Street, map ID 23A-031 should be determined "Preferably Preserved" pursuant to the Northampton Demolition Review Ordinance, Chapter 161 of the General Code. The Demolition Review Subcommittee found that this building met criteria to be determined Significant pursuant to the Ordinance. The property is within an area being pursued for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, and is listed as a contributing structure. The Commission is charged with determining whether it would ‘be in the public interest (for the structure) to be preserved rather than demolished.’ Evidence to be gathered in order to render this determination for each building could include the following: What is the current condition of the building or structure? What is the ‘at a glance’ condition of the building? Is the envelope secure? Is structural deterioration present? How viable is the structure for adaptive reuse? How intact is the building or structure? Has the building been altered from its original state, either by additions, enclosures, or removal of original design elements? Do adaptations illustrate changing tastes, attitudes and uses? Have portions of the building, both exterior and interior, been lost or destroyed? What is the age of the building or structure? Is the building or structure an exemplary representation of a certain style or period and if so, how many of those exist? `2 What architectural style is the building? Are there other examples of that style in the neighborhood, and the City? What is the building or structures role in the streetscape? How does the building fit into the natural and built fabric of the street? Does the building frame a prominent corner or viewshed? Are there exemplary construction elements that embody distinctive characteristics of a period? Does the building represent a significant style of architecture? Are the buildings form, proportion, plan, style, or materials common to a particular class of resources? Does the building or structure yield information important to history? Is the building related to patterns of the area’s development, historic identity, the life of an important person, or historic events? Has the building or structure been designed by a famous and/or local architect? Who is the architect? Are they regionally or locally renowned? Has the building or structure been removed from its original location? If so, does it still have architectural value, or is the surviving structure importantly associated with an historic person or event? If the Commission determines the building to be Preferably Preserved, a delay of up to 12 months could be implemented, or the Commission could find that the intent and purpose - to protect and preserve significant buildings that constitute or reflect distinctive features of the architectural, cultural, economic, political, and/or social history of the City and to encourage preservation of these resources by identifying alternatives to demolition through communication and collaboration - is served in another manner. Possible options for an alternate plan could include documentation, salvage, and preservation of building elements. Demolition review is not a design review of future uses for the site. Additional permitting, including site plan review, may be necessary for the planned use.