Thurs., March 20th Holyoke Senior Center
Public hearing for the proposed Polish Heritage Local Historic District
Sponsored by the Fairfield Avenue Local Historic District Commission
1. Greetings - (there is no vote today!!) The Fairfield Commissioners are CoChair Matt Chenier, Sandy Parent, Beth Strycharz, James Sutter, Peter
Papineau, Wendy Weiss
2. THE FAIRFIELD AVENUE LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION IS
COMPOSED OF 7 VOLUNTEERS, HOLYOKE RESIDENTS DEDICATED TO
PRESERVING FAIRFIELD AVENUE – AN HISTORIC STREET. AT THE END OF
THIS PROCESS, THE FAIRFIELD COMMISSION STEPS AWAY AND THE
NEWLY APPOINTED POLISH HERTIAGE LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT
COMMISSION IS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND CONFIRMED BY THE CITY
COUNCIL.
3. We would like to welcome all of you including the media, the City Council
(names) and interested citizens to the 4th Public hearing regarding the Polish
Heritage District
4. This process was initiated by Mayor Pluta in 2011 and has continued under
Mayor Alex Morse.
SOME RULES FOR THIS MEETING
5. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS
6. PLEASE make YOUR STATEMENTS WITH CIVILITY AND RESPECT TO ALL
7. 3 MINUTES- YOUR COMMENTS WILL BE TIMED-3 MINUTES AND
RECORDED…Please note that in making you points, try not to repeat
comments from before, stay focused and make a new point please don’t
repeat the same points….
8. THE COMMISSION WILL CONSIDER YOUR COMMENTS IN THE ‘FINAL’
REPORT.
9. THE REPORT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND POSTED ON
THE CITY WEBSITE:
a.
WWW.HOLYOKE.ORG /DEPARTMENT/HISTORICAL
10. WE WILL BEGIN WITH SUPPORTER OF THE DISTRICT,
a. THOSE OPPOSED AND A CLOSING STATMENT
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BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN:
11. The Fairfield Commission has:
12. Canvassed Lyman Street area for historical significance,
13. Mailed and compiled questionnaires
14. Obtained historical proof of buildings and activities proposed for the district
15. Contacted EACH PROPERTY OWNERS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE DISTRICT
16. CONSULTED WITH MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
17. THE PRELIMINARY REPORT WAS ACCEPTED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
18. CONSULTED WITH THE HOLYOKE PLANNING BOARD, REDEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
19. SOUGHT FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE DISTRICT
20. HELD OVER 4 PUBLIC HEARINGS INCLUDING OVER 40 MEETING WITHIN
THE PAST 3 YEARS…. AS PART OF THE FAIRFIELD DISTRICT
21. HERE IS A STACK OF SUPPORT LETTERS
22. HERE IS THE BINDER OF THE PROPOSED DISTRICT
23. HERE IS THE PROPOSED MAP ---- OVER THERE
24. HERE IS STACK OF ARTICLES ABOUT THE DISTRICT BACK TO 2011
25. HERE IS Mass. General law on Historic districts CHAP. 40C
26. HERE IS THE TIMELINE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS, AND MEDIA COVERAGE
FROM 2011 TO TODAY
27. HERE IS SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS…..
28. ST. MICHAEL’S CATHEDRAL AT 240 STATE STREET IS IN THE
a. LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT SINCE 1972 AND THE NATIONAL
REGISTER SINCE 1974
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THERE ARE 436 LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS IN THE STATE WITH
CHURCHES
29. THERE ARE 32 ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN LOCAL HISTORIC
DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS
30. THIS PROPOSED POLISH HERITAGE DISTRICT MAY BE THE FIRST IN NEW
ENGLAND, WE HAVE QUICKLY SCANNED OUT DATA BASES AND WILL
RESEARCH THIS PROBABLITY MORE IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS.
31. THIS FINAL HEARING OF THE FAIRFIELD COMMISSION AROSE BECAUSE
THE BISHOP OF SPRINGFIELD, WHO IS THE PROPERTY OWNER OF ALL
CATHOLIC CHURCH PROPERTIES IN HOLYOKE AND WESTERN MASS.
CLAIMED HE DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTICE OF HEARING HELD BEFORE THE
COUNCIL REDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WITH THE COMMISSION ON
OCTOBER 3, 2013
32. EVEN THOUGH ATTY SPELMAN ATTENDED THAT HEARING FOR THE
BISHOP AS AN ‘OBSERVER” AS HE HAD ON OTHER OCCASIONS, WE
THOUGHT TO ADDRESS THIS OBJECTION- So it was decided to hold
ANOTHER Public MEETING
33. THAT’S WHY WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING. THERE IS NO VOTE THIS
EVENING….ONLY A PUBLIC HEARING – YOUR COMMENTS ARE BEING
RECORDED!
34. FOR THOSE PARISHIONERS OR MEMBERS OF ANY DIOCESE OR CATHOLIC
CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS HERE TONIGHT, PLEASE KNOW THAT THE
BISHOP HAS RECEIVED ALL NOTICES OF ALL HEARINGS AS THE OWNER OF
YOUR BUILDINGS AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
35. THE BISHOP OF SPRINGFIELD’S CORPORATION, WHICH OWNS ALL CHURCH
PROPERTY ACCORDING TO THE HOLYOKE ASSESSOR’S OFFICE.
36. THE NOTICES MAILED ARE REQUIRED TO BE SENT TO THE BISHOP WHO
THEN HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY AND CHOICE TO NOTIFY HIS TENANTS AS
THE BISHOP SEES FIT.
37. WE WISH TO DISCLOSE THAT WE DID NOT CONSULT WITH OTHER
INTERESTED PROPERTY OWNERS ON THE HOLDING OF ANOTHER
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HEARING, besides the Bishop’s lawyers BUT ARE HOPEFUL THE rest of the
owners WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT THIS PROCESS TO BE FULLY
TRANSPARENT AND 100% LEGALLY PROPER FOR THE INTEGRITY OF THE
PROCESS AND FOR EVERYONE PARTICIPATION.
38. THE FAIRFIELD COMMISSION HAS BEEN VERY LIBERAL ON CHANGES AND
IMPROVEMENTS TO BUILDING ON FAIRFIELD AVENUE. SIMPLE
MAINTENANCE PROJECTS LIKE WINDOW REPAIRS, SMALL ROOF REPAIRS,
LANDSCAPING ARE NOT REVIEWED BY THE COMMISSION. FEEL FREE TO
CONTACT HOMEOWNERS ON FAIRFIELD AVENUE THAT HAVE HAD WORK
COMPLETED ON THEIR HOMES.
39. ANY LARGE PROJECT THAT REQUIRES A BUILDING PERMIT MUST BE
APPROVED BY THE NEW POLISH HERITAGE LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT
COMMISSION AND MUST FOLLOW THE REGULAR STATE CODES AND
REGULATIONS.
40. THE NEW POLISH HERITAGE LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
WILL WORK WITH THE OWNERS TO MEET THE CITY ORDINANCES. THE
BUILDING INSPECTOR CAN NOT APPROVE A PERMIT UNLESS IT IS
APPROVED BY THE DISTRICT COMMISSION.
41. THESE ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR ISSUES, WHICH SOMETIMES THE PUBLIC
MISUNDERSTANDS.
42. The Polish Heritage Local Historic District can bring back development and
much needed taxes to the city. The City Councilors, the Mayor and the
Planning Board are looking for ways to reenergize the downtown and
‘connect, construct and create ‘ new development.
43. A local historic district is control on the local - street level, home by home,
owner by owner. The commission makes up the guidelines, the city appoints
and approved the commission. The Commission make the decisions not a big
corporation or outside entity.
44. THE COMMISSION IS VERY INTERESTED IN THE MAINTENANCE AND
PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS, AND INCLUSION IN A DISTRICT
MAKES STATE AND FEDERAL LOANS AND GRANTS AVAILABLE------ NOT
ORDINARILY AVAILABLE TO REGULAR NEIGHBORHOODS.
45. THE COMMISSION’S PRIMARY MOTIVATION IS THAT THE POLISH
HERITAGE LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT AS PROPOSED OR AS AMENDED
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FROM THIS MEETING IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOODS BY THIS PROCESS
FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY OF HOLYOKE.
46. Its not about a select group, its not about religion. It’s about OUR CITY!!
YOU WILL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT THIS DURING THE HEARING:
47. THERE ARE 32 ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN LOCAL HISTORIC
DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS
48. ST. MICHAEL’S CATHEDRAL AT 240 STATE STREET IS IN THE
a. LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT SINCE 1972 AND NATIONAL REGISTER
SINCE 1974
FIRST, SUPPORTS FOR THE POLISH HERITAGE LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT
49. CLOSING STATEMENTS:
50. Thank you for coming down this evening and commenting on the Proposed
Polish Heritage Local Historic District.
SOME DISINFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED
51. THIS PROCESS WAS NOT STARTED OVER:
a. IT’S A CONTINUATION ….
52. WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE ANGRY AND HAVE A LOTS OF
QUESTIONS
a. PERHAPS WE CAN ADDRESS SOME :
b. THERE IS NO VOTE THIS EVENING===WE ARE ONLY RECORDING
YOUR COMMENTS
53. COMPLETELY IGNORED: The owners of the property were notified on all the
Fairfield Commissions public hearings.
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a. You, PARENTS, have NOT been ignored by THIS Commission. That’s
the one of the reasons for this meeting. ………
54. TOO COSTLY: A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON H.CROSS:
your regular maintenance on the Church and the school complex IS NOT
UNDER review.
55. COST OF THE SCAFFOLDING ON A STRUCTURALLY SOUND BUILDING - YES,
THAT’S COSTLY
56. COST OF SECURITY IN A FALSELY CLOSED BUILDING – YES, THAT’S COSTLY
71. What about the cost of keeping the church closed and paying taxes on the
property when it could be open for one service and return to tax-exempt status.
YES, THAT’S COSTLY
57. LEGAL OPTIONS: - THAT’S COSTLY
The Diocese has lost 2 federal court decisions—
A. appeals period to US Supreme Court have passed and they
have no case...also
B. lost case against Friends of Mater Dolorosa in Hampden
Superior Court over the steeple and allegations of trespassing.....
58. Real Estate values- there are advantages to being in an Historic District
because most home owners want to maintain their property and they are
protected by the Local District Commission
59. THAT THE FIX IS IN ?? WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT….NOT SURE???
CITY COUNCIL HAS THE FINAL VOTE - ITS ABOUT THE CITY
WHAT ABOUT THE LETTERS IN THE CHURCH BULLETINS AND MD PARENT
LETTER WITH MISINFORMATION…..
60. STRUCTURAL ENGINEER REPORT: Mr. Mitchell was inside the tower to
evaluate the structural integrity of the church. (CONTRARY TO MARK
DUPONT’S STATEMENT) SEE MR. MITCHELL’S REPORT AND PICTURES
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61. PLAYSCAPE: LANDSCAPE: landscape is not reviewed
62. DID YOU KNOW THAT
THERE ARE 436 LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS IN THE STATE WITH
CHURCHES
THERE ARE 32 ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN LOCAL HISTORIC
DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS
ST. MICHAEL’S CATHEDRAL AT 240 STATE STREET IS IN THE
a. LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT SINCE 1972 AND NATIONAL REGISTER
SINCE 1974
NOT ONE PARENT
NOT ONE TEACHER
NOT ONE PARISHIONER FROM HOLY CROSS HAS ADDRESSED THE COMMISSION
WITH QUESTIONS ----------EXCEPT IN DESPERATION IN FRONT OF THE DEC. 3,
2013, ORDINANCE COMMITTEE LAST DECEMBER….. LINDA REX AND FR. ALBERT
HAVE OUR CONTACT INFORMATION…. WERE THEY TOLD NOT TO TALK TO US??
WE HAVE RECEIVED ONLY 1 LETTER FROM THE DIOCESE, IN 3 YEARS?
DATED DEC. 19, 2013
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