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Town hires Eastern Architects for island-wide historic survey; commissioners debate accepting mitigation-related funding
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Summary
Staff said Eastern Architects will begin fieldwork next week on a federally funded survey of town and private historic resources; commissioners praised the work but one raised objections to accepting money tied to a community 'wind farm' fund.
The town will begin a multi-year effort to update its historic-resource inventories after staff confirmed Eastern Architects as the consultant for a fiscal‑2023 survey project.
Holly, the preservation planner and CLG coordinator, said consultants will be on-island next week to complete inventory updates in neighborhoods including Brant Point, Madaket and other areas. The work will produce updated MACRIS forms (Form A/B/C) for individually significant structures, district inventories and town-owned resources. "We have a qualified consultant… This is to finish up the Grama Point area and work on some in Easton, Hobert, some other areas," Holly said.
The project uses previously awarded federal CLG funding and Community Preservation Committee allocations; staff said the funding allowed the town to extend survey coverage and incorporate student work through university partnerships. Holly also highlighted partnerships with the Preservation Institute Nantucket and Penn students to document historic farms and other resources.
Commissioner Val Oliver objected to one identified funding source, calling it problematic that the survey would take money from a “community wind farm fund.” Val said, "We're accepting money from the very source that's going to ruin us." Holly responded that applying for federal or mitigation-related funding does not equal endorsement of a project and that the priority was securing resources to protect the National Historic Landmark and island historic resources. "It doesn't mean necessarily that I personally support wind farm[s], but, to be able to have some sort of funding to be allocated towards our historic resources was a good thing," Holly said.
Commissioners also suggested adding oral histories, training and outreach to the scope; staff said students’ independent projects and NHI/NAPC webinars could be integrated into the phased work. The survey is scheduled to start with fieldwork the next week; staff will follow the normal procurement and reporting steps and return to commissions with draft forms and findings.
