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Neighbor alerts Northampton CPC that St. John’s project plans have shifted; staff cites historic-preservation restriction
Summary
A neighbor told the CPC that O'Connell Development Group appears to have abandoned residential plans for the St. John's church project and shifted housing to a separate parking-lot building; staff said CPC-funded work was for exterior preservation and remains bound by a historic-preservation restriction requiring Historic Commission review.
A Northampton resident told the Community Preservation Committee on Feb. 26 that the developer of the former St. John’s church has largely abandoned earlier plans to convert the building to housing and appears to be moving residential components to a newly proposed building in the church parking lot.
Daniel, who identified himself as a next-door neighbor, said he attended a recent community meeting with O'Connell Development Group where “they've really abandoned any plans that they had to turn that into a residential space” and that “they've effectively moved the residential plans into that parking lot plan and that the church would be functioning as maybe some sort of a rental office.”
Sarah (committee staff) responded that Community Preservation Act funds awarded to that project paid only for the structure’s exterior preservation and that the committee required a historic-preservation restriction on the structure. She said that restriction “requires that the historic commission review and approve any changes” to the structure’s exterior, and that CPA-funded exterior work was completed as proposed.
Daniel said the cupola removed from the former church “does not appear… to be replaced despite what they may have told you guys.” Sarah said the developer updated the Historic Commission at the end of 2024 about the cupola’s status and that the outcome was not yet a foregone conclusion; she said the restriction also creates maintenance and insurance obligations for current and future owners.
Committee members acknowledged the limits of the CPC’s leverage after funds are spent but noted that the historic-preservation restriction gives the city some ongoing review authority over exterior work tied to the CPC award. Sarah clarified the restriction applies primarily to the structure itself, not the entire property, though she said a new building proposal would also trigger review.
