Going, Going, Gone

Little Red Schoolhouse, Amherst College, Wednesday

In the end the much fought over Little Red Schoolhouse, which was granted a one year stay of execution by the Amherst Historical Commission, went down in a matter of days.

And no, surprisingly, Carol Gray did not chain herself to the building as the backhoes rumbled in to do their job.

Little Red Schoolhouse Thursday

 Finally, Little Red Schoolhouse Friday:

 Click photos to enlarge

A Precious Thing

The Evergreens in October

While Town Meeting was somewhat unanimous in agreeing The Evergreens and First Congregational Church are priceless images that bring majesty (and foot traffic) to our Main Street Dickinson Historic District, there was still plenty of discussion about $390,000 in Community Preservation Act tax money for fire suppression systems.

Town Meeting approved $390K for First Congregation Church & The Evergreens 

The separation of church and state concerned some with the $200K request from the First Congregation Church, and even more were concerned that The Evergreens is owned by Amherst College, our #1 landowner who sits on a $2 billion endowment.

But supporters pointed out the College is matching the $190K request for The Evergreens and they contribute 15% of the annual operation costs to the Dickinson Museum complex.

Carol Gray in her usual acerbic way reminded Town Meeting that Amherst College was about to demolish the Little Red Schoolhouse to make way for a $200 million Science Center.

Little Red Schoolhouse facing west (Stone dorm in immediate background)

 Carol Gray locked and loaded

I voted "yes" simply because I worry that a No vote would have significantly delayed the installation of the sophisticated fire mitigation system, and I know all too well the devastating damage fire can unleash.

And it only takes minutes for the beast to grow unstoppable.

I did however abstain from the individual vote on First Congregational Church because I didn't want to mess too much (by voting no) with God.

 Town Hall had sprinkler system installed as part of $4 million renovation 20 years ago

Perhaps Town Meeting was a tad more civil last night (Carol Gray notwithstanding) because we started with cute kids from the Middle School presenting their warrant article to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day.

 Amherst Regional Middle Schoolers present to Town Meeting

As the town curmudgeon I usually vote "no" to these, but I figured there was no harm in showing empathy for wrongs committed a long, long time ago.  Besides, one of the petitioners is my daughter's BFF.

The article is only "advisory" so it has no real power to influence a Federal/State holiday, but it does send a symbolic message that Amherst is sensitive to the slaughter of innocent people.

The motion passed almost unanimously, to the great delight of spectators in the back of the room -- something not often seen or heard in sedate Town Meeting.

Yes, this is the same legislative body that voted down -- by two thirds vote no less -- my 2007 advisory article requesting the downtown commemorative flags fly every 9/11 for as long as the Republic stands to remember the innocents slaughtered on that unforgettable day. 

Maybe I should have had my daughter make the presentation.

$2 Million Here & $2 Million There

Strong House Amherst History Museum located next door to Jones Library

The Amherst Community Preservation Act Committee held their required public hearing last night to seek input on 15 proposals totaling $2.1 million, with the available pot of funds being "only" $1.8 million.

The overall nest egg is generated by a 3% surcharge on properties, although residential homeowners are exempt from the first $100,000 of their valuation.

 CPA Committee Chair Mary Streeter (center)

Chair Mary Streeter called the meeting to order a few minutes late and explained to the sizable crowd they would go down the list of all the projects and accept comments or questions first, then the Committee would talk among themselves and possible vote on some of the projects.

The only two projects to generate public (supportive) discussion were the First Congregational Church request for $357,647 to install a fire suppression system and the recreation request of $600,000 for a spray park and other improvements at Groff Park in South Amherst.

 Good crowd on a potentially snowy night

Although most of the speakers voicing support were pretty much connected to the projects.

After 45 minutes all 15 projects were done as many did not generate any comments at all and the Committee then took up their discussion of the projects.  The first problem to deal with was some of the historical preservation requests were questionable as to being eligible for CPA spending.

The request from the Strong House/Amherst History Museum for $18,000 to pay for legal counsel to break  the will of the Emerson family (who donated the Strong House to the Amherst Historical Society) so they can sell property to the Jones Library was ruled illegal by the town attorney.

There were also questions/concerns about the legality of $10,000 in "due diligence" money for the Amherst Historical Commission as they seem to be treated differently than the Conservation Commission where due diligence money is routinely funded by CPA.

And a $5,000 request for a headstone to mark the grave of a black soldier who served in the Civil War was also found somewhat questionable, although if the CPA ruled it was a "rehabilitation of West Cemetery" it would pass muster.  Chair Mary Streeter seemed uncomfortable making that declaration.

A $10,000 historical preservation request to photo archive Amherst College owned Little Red Schoolhouse slated for demolition this spring was withdrawn by zealot Carol Gray.

In the end the Committee voted support for the non controversial projects -- previous debt that must be paid, and $3,500 annual dues to the coalition of CPA committees, and will take up discussion and votes at their next meeting March 7.

Town Meeting has the final say on all CPA spending, but they usually act as a rubber stamp for Committee recommendations.

 Little Red Schoolhouse will be demolished in May to make room for Amherst College $200 million science center

Thowing In the Towel?

Time is running out for Amherst College owned Little Red Schoolhouse

Carol Gray crashed the Community Preservation Act Committee meeting last night to file a (late) request for $10,000 concerning her ultimate windmill, the Little Red Schoolhouse. 

At least this seems to indicate she has given up on the enormously expensive idea of saving the building.

Only a small percentage of the $10K would go towards photographing for posterity the interior and exterior of the 79-year-old building.  The majority of the funding  would "document the human side" of the preschool business that operated within its tiny walls.

Of course Ms. Gray herself would be an interview subject since she's an overly proud parent of a Little Red Schoolhouse graduate. 

And if Herman Melville was still around, he could interview her for the writing of "Moby Dick Returns."

Carol Gray (2nd from rt) at 11/22/15 meeting trying to get Historical Commission to become Little Red cheerleaders

Little Red Schoolhouse: Status Quo

Little Red Schoolhouse:  Worth $1 million to move?

After an hour of one-sided overly enthusiastic discussion the Amherst Historical Commission decided not to take any action on the one year demo delay (which expires in May) currently in effect for the Amherst College owned Little Red Schoolhouse.

While that may sound like a victory for breathless zealot Carol Gray, it fell far short of what she repeatedly asked the Commission to do: mainly go on a public relations warpath against Amherst College, and try to force a meeting with President Biddy Martin.

Commissioners expressed exasperation with Ms. Gray who simply refused to answer simple questions with a yes or no.  Like whether she has raised a single dime towards the preservation effort over these past six months?  Well, no (after 10 minutes worth of other ideas that will never pan out).

Or whether she secured property off the Amherst College campus for the building to go?  Umm, no.

Amherst College representative Tom Davies said the College wants the building gone but will not put money into moving it, and their estimates are more like $1 million vs Ms. Gray's overly optimistic $150,000 (which did not include relocation site work).

He also pointed out, when he could get a word in edgewise, the College takes historical preservation very seriously and has won awards for doing so. 

Little Red Schoolhouse is currently standing in the way of the new $214 million Science Center which the College hopes to break ground on next year.

 Amherst Historical Commission:  Carol Gray 2nd from rt, Tom Davies rear center

A Bridge Too Far

CPA Committee was unanimously in sync last night

North Town Common in front of Town Hall will see major renovations

The Community Preservation Act Committee voted unanimously last night to recommend funding two major capital projects to the fall Town Meeting, including $190,000 -- contingent on a state grant of $400,000 -- to renovate the North Town Common and $240,000 to  expand/renovate the Crocker Farm Elementary Playground and make it handicapped accessible.

 Crocker Farm's sad little playground will expand by 33% and become ADA compliant

Vince O'Connor's pitch to spend over a million in town money, including hundreds of thousands in CPA historical preservation funds, to renovate the Mill Street Bridge (scheduled for state renovation at no town expense in 2017) was firmly rejected by the Committee.

 Mill Street Bridge this morning

When member Marilyn Blaustein made a motion to "not recommend" the crazy proposal other members said simply not taking a vote is the same thing.  So the Committee unanimously pocket vetoed the proposal by not taking a vote.

 Little Red Schoolhouse will be demolished by Amherst College to make room for new Science Center

And Carol Gray, a mother on a mission to save the pre-school building her child attended, sent a letter of withdrawal to the committee for her $200,000+ request saying she could not find a location for the building after it's moved.  At the last CPA meeting she stated she was in negotiations with UMass.

 Carol Gray email to CPA Committee (click to enlarge/read)

When CPA Chair Mary Streeter quipped that UMass officials do not move as quickly as Ms. Gray, Assistant Town Manger Dave Ziomek confirmed that UMass Chancellor Subbaswamy made it very clear to him that UMass was not in the least bit interested in the structure. 

 Crocker Farm pre-school playground

Chestnut Hill Elementary School playground, Belchertown

$ From Heaven

Little Red Schoolhouse:  Worth $500,000 to move?

Just as a concrete example of how some activists think Community Preservation Act money raised each year by a tax surcharge on all residential property (except tax-exempts of course) free money to be plundered on a personal whim, I give you last night's CPA pubic meeting:

Carol Gray now admits the moving of Amherst College owned Little Red Schoolhouse would cost in the $325,000 to $375,000 range and at the moment she has not raised a single penny towards that (relying instead on CPA historical preservation funds) and currently has no site secured for the relocated building to call home.

Amherst College Facilities Director Jim Brassord was in attendance and pegged the actual amount -- based on quotes from a contractor who already moved two College owned buildings -- as being "North of $500,000."  Ouch!

 Carol Gray left, Jim Brassord back row in white shirt

I left the meeting near 9:00 PM after Ms. Gray gave her presentation, as she was the 3rd and last item on the agenda.

But Vince O'Connor, who chimed in freely during the three presentations, then commandeered the meeting and gave close to a half-hour pitch to squander $300,000 in CPA funds to rebuild the (supposedly historic) Mill Street Bridge.

 Posted agenda for last night's CPA meeting (note Mr. O'Connor's crusade is not mentioned)

Mill Street Bridge closed 3 years ago due to safety concerns

Since this ridiculous item was not on the agenda (and had it been I would most certainly have stayed to cover it) the CPA Committee -- under Open Meeting Law -- should not even have allowed the discussion.  

Not to mention the state is planning to rebuild the Mill Street Bridge next year with STATE MONEY.

Mr. O'Connor brought a warrant article to Amherst Town Meeting last spring to reopen the bridge but it failed handily.  A vote to "refer back to committee" is Town Meeting's nice way of saying "go away."

 Vince O'Connor bridge scheme unanimously rejected by Public Works Committee in April

Back in 2007 the town spent $287,000 in CPA money to preserve the view of the historic Kimball House on North East Street, even though it is (still) owned by Roger Cherewatti, who then built the most expensive house in Amherst immediately behind it.

Which kind of takes away from the view.

If the CPA Committee approves funding either Ms. Gray or Mr. O'Connor tilting at windmills,  taxpayer should figure out how to recall appointed members of the committee.

   Amherst Mill Street Bridge

Last Minute Big Ticket Items

Crocker Farm Pre-School play area will cost $270,000

The Amherst Community Preservation Act committee briefly discussed three new proposals last night that have just come in vying for the $1.273 million they have left in their piggy bank.  If all three receive CPA and then Fall Town Meeting approval,  it comes to just over $600,000.

Last Spring -- the usual cycle for CPA spending -- Town Meeting approved all 9 new projects endorsed by the CPA committee for a total of $523,346.

One of those 9 projects included $25,000 for making Crocker Farm pre-school playground ADA compliant.  But town and school officials have decided that would simply be a band aid, so this new proposal is a complete tear down and renovation from the ground up with all new commercial quality equipment.

Assistant Town Manager Dave Ziomek submitted the expected request for 30% matching funds required by the state for a $500,000+ proposal to rehabilitate the historic North Common in front of equally historic Town Hall.  That will cost the town between $150,000 and $165,000.

The proposal that came somewhat out of the blue, submitted only the day before the CPAC meeting, came via Carol Gray:  $190,000 to $240,000 for the moving of the Amherst College owned "Little Red Schoolhouse", built in 1937, and now standing in the way of a $100+ million Science Center.

Little Red Schoolhouse facing east

Back on May 19 the Amherst Historical Commission hit Amherst College with a half-hearted "one year demolition delay," but suggested if the College really can't see any workable alternative after trying really hard, then they could probably tear it down sooner.

 South East Street Alternative High School was mentioned as possible home for Little Red

Ms. Gray suggested the solid brick building could be moved to town owned property.

 Greenway Dorm construction

Amherst College is currently busy with construction on the new Greenway Dorms, which are not expected to open until the Fall of 2016.Construction on the new Science Building would start pretty much the next day.

 Amherst Community Preservation Act Committee meeting last night

The Community Preservation Act Committee will devote their next two meetings (8/25 and 9/8) to hear presentations, discuss, and then vote on the three proposals.

A majority of Amherst Town Meeting must also vote in favor for the money to be released.