Pittsfield Historical Commission Invites Input on St. Mary's Demolition
 The Historical Commission is seeking public input on plans to demolish St. Mary's on Tyler Street. |
Developer Cafua Management and the Springfield Diocese, as well as local business auspices and members of the public, will all be invited to an upcoming meeting of the commission on Monday Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 5:15 in City Council Chambers to discuss the historic significance of the Tyler Street property that includes the church, rectory, convent, the former St. Mary's School and a small garage.
"St. Mary's was a focal point in that neighborhood for decades," said commission member Kathy Reilly. "It's part of a whole growth of population in Pittsfield, the influx of the Catholic population, and the expansion of the structure of the Catholic church in Pittsfield."
While its review is not required for any demolition associated with the proposed Dunkin' Donuts site, as an independent public body, the commission may decide for itself what if any recommendations or comment it may wish to make regarding the status of the St. Mary's property. Under the city's Demolition Delay Ordinance, the commission is to review demolition applications for any structure older than 75 years, a criteria that St. Mary's, begun in 1941, falls short of by just under two years.
A hearing by the Community Development Board anticipated for early October will focus mainly on whether the site plan filed by Cafua Management complies with zoning requirements. Further review by the City Council for approval of a special permit for a drive through may include examination of a broader range of issues, including traffic, neighborhood impact and consistency with the city's Master Plan guidelines.
"There's a real historical aspect to that church," said Reilly. "Whether it's 72 years old or 75 years old, it was and is a very integral part of that neighborhood."
At its next meeting, the commission will hear a presentation on the history of the St. Mary's property, to which representatives of both Cafua and the Catholic diocese as owner will be invited, along with the Tyler Street Business Association. At that time, they will also accept comments from the public as they pertain to the historical significance of the former parish buildings to the community.
"I would personally love to hear from the diocese," said commission member Thomas Martin.
Many residents have expressed wide ranging reaction since news broke officially on Thursday of the plan to demolish St. Mary's, with considerable debate raging across social media. A Save St. Mary's Facebook page as well as a invitation to boycott local Dunkin' locations have each attracted several hundred followers, and a Change.org petition launched by Dalton resident Darcie Sosa has thus far garnered more than 650 signatures.
Numerous calls have also been placed to the Springfield Diocese and to Cafua Management, whose customer feedback voice mail had become full by Friday morning and was no longer accepting calls.
Sosa, who was involved in an ad hoc committee that successfully dissuaded demolition of St Francis' Church in North Adams for construction of a new CVS pharmacy, said the former Tyler Street likewise merits saving, for its historic and architectural merits.
"St. Mary's, from all outside appearances, seems intact, and it is one of the most beautiful buildings on Tyler Street," Sosa told iBerkshires. "It has religious and historical significance to the Morningside neighborhood, the Catholic population of Pittsfield and surrounding areas and the residents and their relatives of Berkshire County."
"Tyler Street appears to be narrow," added Sosa, "and it just doesn't seem that a Dunkin' Donuts is appropriate in that kind of residential neighborhood."
Mayor Daniel Bianchi sympathized with residents disappointed by the news, some of whom have also contacted City Hall since news broke last week.
"That is a very challenging piece of property," Bianchi told iBerkshires. "But I would have hoped for something else."
According to former Director of Administrative Services Mary McGuiness, an alternate proposal for reuse of at least some of the St. Mary's campus had materialized earlier this year, but by that time negotiations to sell the property to Cafua had already been under way.
"Paul Supranowicz and I met with Monsignor Mike back in March," McGuiness said. "We were proposing transitional housing and the convent was perfectly zoned, etc. Unfortunately, there was already a tentative agreement with Dunkin' Donuts so it couldn't happen."
A similar scenario occurred in the case of the former Plunkett Elementary School, which was ultimately demolished in May and awaits construction of a Dunkin' Donuts location. That site's claim to a drive-through permit hinges on the outcome of a case currently before the Massachusetts Land Court, in which Cafua is appealing to overturn a denial of this special permit by the City Council in 2013.
The new First and Fenn Street location will replace the current franchise location farther south First Street, as the new 653 Tyler St. location is intended to replace the current Dunkin' Donuts at 84 Dalton Ave. Both current locations are leased by Cafua, and owned by Joseph Santos, proprietor of The Donut Man, to whom the existing drive-through special permits will be revert at the end of Cafua's tenancy at those locations.
Tags: church, demolition, historical building, historical commission,
