WESTFIELD – The Historical Commission will conduct a special meeting on Aug. 25 to discuss details of the demolition of the Flahive Building on Arnold Street although the board has already approved removal of the structure.
Co-Chairwoman Cindy Gaylord said the commission gave its approval for the demolition earlier this summer after considering the advantages of the proposed Pioneer Valley Transit Authority 2,700-square-foot Westfield Transit Pavilion project.
“Although we really don’t approval to tearing down historic buildings, that there is value in preserving buildings that add to the historic value of the city,” Gaylord said. “The Flahive Building is not that historically significant.
“We felt that (demolition of) the Flahive Building would be more valuable to the city’s future economic growth and that it’s in the best interest of Westfield to take down a building that doesn’t add to the historic value of the city,” Gaylord said.
City Advancement Officer Joe Mitchell said that part of the demolition permit review process includes a public hearing by the Historical Commission, a component of the “routine review” of demolition permits and similar to what the commission did prior to the demolition of the Foster House
“Part of that PVTA agreement is to allow the commission members to enter the building, take photographs and to collect historical artifacts,” Mitchell said. “The public hearing is part of the process of determining what is significant in that building.
Mitchell said that demolition would take plan this winter or next spring after relocation of two remaining tenants is completed. The Flahive Building house eight commercial spaces and had 14 residential units, most of which have been vacated following acquisition by the PVTA.
“There is also some benefit to the community,” Mitchell said. “The PVTA is currently negotiating with the Westfield Fire Department which wants to do some training in the vacant building before it comes down.” Mitchell said. “It’s a unique opportunity for firefighters to be doing realistic training in a multi-story building.”
Construction of the $6.6 million Westfield Transit Pavilion to be constructed on a three-quarter acre lot is one of three elements of the Elm Street Urban Renewal project with also includes a mixed-use commercial and residential building and a multistory parking garage.
