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Pittsfield Looking At Adopting Preservation Act

A citizens group believes the Community Preservation Act could help preserve St. Mary the Morning Star Church on Tyler St. in Pittsfield.
Jim Levulis
/
WAMC
A citizens group believes the Community Preservation Act could help preserve St. Mary the Morning Star Church on Tyler St. in Pittsfield.

Come November, Pittsfield could vote on whether to enroll in a program designed to preserve historic buildings and promote restoration.A citizens group is hopeful city voters will adopt the Community Preservation Act that would add a 1 percent surcharge to tax bills to support preservation and restoration projects. John Dickson chairs the Pittsfield Historical Commission, but says he is leading the effort as a private citizen. The group came together after learning about the potential demolition of St. Mary the Morning Star Church on Tyler Street to make way for a Dunkin’ Donuts.

“We were looking for mechanisms — what can we do to help neighborhoods and communities preserve and protect their structures and sense of who they are,” said Dickson.

Separate from the levy limit, the group’s petition would raise funds by placing a 1 percent surcharge on tax bills with exemptions for low-income residents, senior citizens and on the first $100,000 of assessed property value. According to the Community Preservation Coalition this would mean a $14 annual increase for the average Pittsfield homeowner. More importantly, Dickson says it’s a way for the city to capture money collected from document fees at the state Registry of Deeds that is given to the 161 communities that have adopted CPA.

“I bought a house here in 2007,” Dickinson said. “I paid those transaction fees and those transaction fees went to other towns and cities around the state. It’s time that we bring these fees back here.”

The coalition estimates the city would raise about $384,000 and, with the average 30 percent state match, have nearly half a million dollars each year to work with. The money would be administered by a community preservation council that consists of representatives of the city’s conservation and historical commissions, planning board, recreation and housing authority along with at-large seats. Stuart Saginour, executive director of the Community Preservation Coalition, says the most popular use of the money is to preserve historic municipal buildings.

“CPA funds can rehabilitate parks, playgrounds, athletic fields and build new ones,” Saginour said. “Trails, community gardens, skateboard parks are very popular in urban areas and dog parks. We’ve had lots of communities build dog parks with CPA funding.” 

Pittsfield decided against adopting the CPA in 2006, but Saginour says lawmakers made a number of changes to make the program more flexible. He says 16 communities have already placed adoption on November’s ballot or are considering it. Voters in Springfield and Holyoke will decide this year while those in Great Barrington and Williamstown have already approved it. Saginour says no community has ever left the program. The city council’s ordinance and rules committee unanimously recommended the petition. Councilor John Krol says St. Mary the Morning Star Church could benefit from the program.

“I zeroed in on that one because there is a lot of community interest, but also because it is kind of a case study to say ‘Is this something that would work for us in Pittsfield?’” Krol said. “Because there is the Springside House and many other historic buildings that may be able to be reused in a variety of ways.”

The full city council needs to approve placing the question on the ballot by September 8th. The only scheduled meeting before then is August 9th.

Jim is WAMC’s Associate News Director and hosts WAMC's flagship news programs: Midday Magazine, Northeast Report and Northeast Report Late Edition. Email: jlevulis@wamc.org
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