The Fall River Historical Commission on Sept. 30 voted unanimously to provide letters of support for a group of local preservation projects seeking Community Preservation Committee funding and related assistance.
The commission approved support letters for more than a dozen applications, ranging from window restorations at 418 Quakersfield Street and the American Printing No. 6 mill to a $645,000 tower-repointing phase at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption. The commission also backed surveys of two historic districts, roof and exterior restorations at the Fall River Historical Society and Little Theatre, and restoration work proposed by Battleship Cove and other local churches and institutions.
Why it matters: the letters of support are part of the formal CPC application process in Fall River; several applicants told the commission their projects depend on CPC funding or matching funds. The projects together involve building envelopes, fenestration, and historic inventories that public speakers said will protect historic fabric and help secure additional grant funding.
The most costly project discussed was a tower repointing and scaffolding package for the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption at 450 Highland Avenue. Victor Andreozzi, director of facilities for the Diocese of Fall River, said the tower portion of a larger cathedral renovation is roughly a $645,000 effort and that the diocese "is requesting $150,000 CPA funds and help fund both the scaffolding and the pointing of the tower." The commission voted to provide a letter of support for the cathedral application.
Other notable approvals included:
- 418 Quakersfield Street (8 Arms LLC): Nelson Rigo, representing the owner, said the 1871 mill building listed on the National Register of Historic Places needs replacement of 54 oversized windows; he told the commission "our goal is to restore and replace 54 windows." The commission voted to provide a letter of support for the window project.
- American Printing No. 6 (Patricia Todd): Todd, who said her family has operated in Fall River since 1936 and described the building as a 208,000-square-foot mill, asked for support to begin restoration of about 44 first-floor windows. Architectural consultant Steve Totten described restoration and selective replication to preserve original sash and framing; the commission approved a support letter and Todd said she had requested $350,000 from the CPC to start first-floor work.
- Bio Reserve historic inventory, phase 2 (Michael Boss): the city's Bio Reserve forester and project manager described the first phase as identifying more than 90 historic and archaeological sites across the Bio Reserve and said phase 2 will add roughly 30 more sites and produce Form A/B/Es for MassHistorical. He asked for a support letter and the commission approved one.
- Waterfront Cultural District survey (Sandy Dennis/Creative Arts Network): Dennis said Roger Williams University will assist with an intensive survey of properties and landforms in the Waterfront Cultural District; the commission approved a letter of support for the CPC funding request tied to that work.
- Battleship Cove / Maritime Museum (Chris Nardi): Nardi requested support to restore windows on two sides of the maritime museum at 70 Water Street; the commission voted to provide a letter of support. He said some original sash for the Water Street side remain and can be restored, while the Anawan Street side sash will require fabrication.
- Little Theatre (Aaron Ginger Visco): the Little Theatre requested support for replacing a deteriorated slate roof with a DaVinci composite slate product; the commission approved a letter and asked the applicant to return with installation details that meet Secretary of the Interior standards when construction begins.
- Fall River Historical Society (Caroline Aubin): the museum requested CPC funds for phase 2 of exterior restoration (roof and upper exterior) and submitted a CPC request in the $500,000-plus range; the commission approved a support letter.
- Waterworks Complex, Repair Shed No. 12 (city project, presented by Michael Boss): the commission approved a letter supporting roof, window and trim repair for the 1873-era shed.
- Saint John the Baptist Ukrainian Church (Ihor Slobiki): the trustees requested support to repaint interior plaster and touch minimal decorative bands while preserving murals and painted decoration; the commission approved a support letter after confirming adherence to Secretary of the Interior standards for historic interiors.
- Christ the Rock Church (Robert Canavan): the commission approved a letter to support final-phase restoration work, including the church tower.
Process and votes: the commission handled these requests in a single meeting and approved each request by roll call. Commissioners voting in favor were Jonathan Lima, Connie Soule, Ashley DeCunha, Joyce Rodricks and newly seated chair Richard Mancini. In every case recorded in the minutes the roll call vote was "yes."
Discussion vs. action: most presentations were brief project summaries and requests for a letter of support; applicants were told the commission could provide additional technical guidance at later design or construction review stages. Commissioners asked for confirmation that proposed materials or methods would meet Secretary of the Interior standards where appropriate (for windows, slate roofing and interior painting) and confirmed that many projects are contingent on CPC funding awards.
What's next: applicants said letters will be provided by the commission within about a week; final funding decisions rest with the CPC and any required technical reviews will follow if projects are funded.