Architect Jeffrey Scott Penn and Joseph Shibley, owner of the Bismark Hotel building with a rendering of the refurbished porches. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – On Thursday, the Finance Committee reviewed the $250,000 appropriation from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) undesignated account to reconstruct the Hotel Bismark’s porch facade, following unanimous approval of the grant by the Community Preservation Commission (CPC) last month.
Joseph Shibley, owner with his wife Donna of the hotel in which their business Pilgrim Candle is housed, gave a short presentation on the history of his request to the committee. Shibley said that he was approached by the Community Preservation Commission, who told him there might be funds to help save the historic front porch on the 1900 building. Shibley hired Huntington architect Jeffrey Scott Penn who has done a lot of work with historic buildings, and the plan was presented to the CPC.
Finance Committee chair Robert A. Paul, Sr. said the proposal in front of the committee is for $1.1 million for the entire restoration. He asked Shibley if he were to get the grant, where would the rest of the funding come from?
Finance Committee member Dave Flaherty said that a similar project was undertaken at the old Whip Factory across the way, and wondered if the rest of the building is not going to be redone, whether the porch is worth it.
Penn said there is no other instability other than the porches, and that Shibley has been doing ongoing maintenance.
“Is it worth as much as an average home in Westfield?” Flaherty asked.
“The Historical Commission thinks so,” said Penn.
Flaherty went on to say that his biggest concern is the cost of the rehabilitation, and the relative value vs. the value of the building.
“Some people in town want to eliminate the CPA funding,” Flaherty said.
One resident who has been very vocal about the use of CPA funds recently has been Frank Mills. Mills recently spoke up at the Community Preservation Commission public hearing, as well as the Oct. 20 meeting of the City Council, where he questioned putting more than $800,000 in taxpayer money into the Whip Factory when the building is only assessed at $141,000 in spite of the exterior work that has been done on it.
Finance Committee member Matthew T. VanHeynigen asked if there would be a deed restriction on the Bismark Hotel.
Shibley said he would be happy to deed the exterior of the building to the city, which limits what changes can be made to it.
“To preserve our history and to pass it on to the next generation, is why these acts were passed,” said Shibley, adding that he pays close to $2,000 per month in property taxes for the hotel and the historic Buschmann’s Block next door.
“As long as we have city money available, I think this is an appropriate project. These are monies designated for projects just like this. They were invited to bring this project,” VanHeynigen said.
Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy also spoke for the project. “I think it’s an example of a public private partnership and a worthy project that will anchor that side of my Ward – Ward 2,” Figy said. “Now that the transportation corridors are looking good, this is an appropriate use of funds.”
“It’s quite prominent. It will be quite visible as a project,” Penn said.
City solicitor Susan C. Phillips, who was also present at the Finance Committee meeting, said the Law Department is using the whole CPA process to look to document how decisions are made, and how to validate them. She said they would be looking at the Whip Factory.
Phillips added that in the case of a building with a higher value and lesser grant, such as the Bismark Hotel, the city is protecting its investment. She said the deed restriction is significant on the property.
“I believe the process is in place for this project. We’re going to take a look back at some of the other projects,” Phillips said, adding that they haven’t found a problem with CPA funding, but are looking at ways to improve the process.
After a discussion on more details of the grant, such as how the money is given out and what paperwork is required, Paul asked for a motion to hold the matter in committee until more details are given.
“We don’t have the basic understanding yet,” he said.
Following the meeting, Penn said that no matter what else happens, he and Saloomey Construction, the builders on the project, are planning to stabilize the porches for the winter.
“The history that we hold is not ours, it’s our grandchildren’s,” Penn said.
