NORTHAMPTON — Both the Northampton Planning Board and the Northampton Historical Commission postponed decisions on whether to grant the appropriate permits and certificates for a proposed massive building project in the heart of the city, delaying a resolution on any decision until at least the end of the month.
The $24 million project, designed by Sunwood Builders of Amherst, calls for building a three-section structure containing 71 apartments and 37 parking spaces, as well as space for a restaurant and cafe, on the property of the former St. Mary’s Church at the corner of Elm and State streets. The building would go up on the section of the property facing State Street, although Sunwood has yet to file plans for what it will do with the church building.
Due to the property’s location within the Elm Street Historic District, the project must receive a “Certificate of Appropriateness” from the Historical Commission, to ensure the proposed building conforms to the aesthetic standards of surrounding properties. During the commission’s latest meeting on Feb. 24, members once again voted for a continuation on discussion regarding the property without taking a vote.
Though Sunwood’s architects have made changes to originally submitted renderings to try to meet the commission’s approval, such as adding more brick to the facade and altering the section around the parking garage, commission members indicated that the building hadn’t quite reached the high threshold for receiving the certificate.
“I think that the very plain nature of the design itself, and the very modern aesthetics that you’re bringing to this particular design, are not blending particularly well with the surroundings,” said commission member Hannah Ray, who also serves as vice president of Historic Northampton. “I’m responding to that, and I’m reading that in public comments.”
Martha Lyon, who chairs the commission, said she has yet to be totally convinced of the building’s design, though she acknowledged Sunwood’s efforts to achieve the necessary standards.
“I think it meets some of the standards I think it doesn’t meet other ones,” Lyons said. “Our goal is not to be obstructionist. We want to try to make it work.”
At the Planning Board meeting held on Feb. 27, the board also postponed discussion whether to grant a special permit to Sunwood for the property, saying that ongoing discussions with the city’s Department of Public Works over a stormwater permit needed to be concluded first.
“They’ve asked the applicant to go back and provide some more information about stormwater, so there’s no need to have a hearing tonight,” said Planning & Sustainability Director Carolyn Misch during the meeting. The board intends to discuss the project again during its next meeting on March 27.
Though the board didn’t entertain public comments during the meeting, member George Kohout acknowledged the high public interest in the proposed project.
“There’s members in the public here and online who came to maybe speak to this agenda,” Kohout said. “I don’t think at this point we’ll entertain those comments but I would hopefully suggest that all of you come on the 27th.”
Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.
