WESTFIELD – Members of the Westfield Woman’s Club foundation attended the Historical Commission meeting on Monday night.
Barbara Trant and Sue West of the foundation, and also members of the Westfield Woman’s Club, proposed an idea to the Historical Commission about modifying the Court Street building’s entryway.
Trant and West are looking to assist the woman’s club with the accessibility of the building that is located on 28 Court St.
The two women needed the Historical Commission’s help with this process, as the woman’s club building has to be considered historic in order to have an upgrade.
The CPC (Community Preservation Committee) would need the historical commission’s approval that the building is historic then they would be able to provide funding towards the project. The CPC would then present the project to city council as they are the governing body to approve or deny the request.
The Westfield Woman’s Club needs an upgrade to the accessibility for the building entrance. (WNG File Photo)
If the CPC chooses to, that will be one avenue of grant money, or funding, for the woman’s club foundation to use towards the building entrance. The Historical Commission would also send a letter of approval to the CPC.
At the meeting on Monday night, the historical commission deemed that the building is historic as they discovered paperwork that the building may have been around as early at 1926.
The community regularly uses the woman’s club for events so there is a recognized need for better accessibility to the building. It was also noted that requests to rent out the building have had to be limited, due to the lack of accessibility.
“This is something that the woman’s club has needed to undertake for a little while,” said Trant. “Our goal is to ensure that all members of the community can access the club,” said West.
Trant and West also mentioned that they may look to do a feasibility study on the building as well.
The woman’s club foundation will meet with the CPC at their next meeting in April to discuss their proposal.
