The Dartmouth Historical Preservation Trust (DHPT) is seeking funds for stabilization and conservation of the Akin house on the corner of Dartmouth and Rockland streets from the Community Preservation Committee (CPC). The CPC has funds from a surcharge on our property taxes that are then matched by the state. At least 10% of CPC funds are set aside for historical preservation. Diane Gilbert, a member of the Select Board and president of DHPT ...
...emailed me about the effort to fund the work. The CPC can recommend funding but in our form of town government, the Town Meeting must approve all appropriations. She said,DHPT has applied for Community Preservation Act funding for the Akin House. We’re asking for about $275,000 and it is intended to do “emergency” stabilization work and to complete the conservation work. At a preliminary meeting I attended of the Community Preservation Committee, they indicated that “it will be a tough sell” for them, the Finance Committee, and ultimately to Town Meeting on October 21. DHPT NEEDS the necessary recommendation from CPC before DHPT can appear before FinCom so that we can make our case at town meeting. Without getting over the first two hurdles, town meeting won’t even have a chance to vote yes or no.
A public hearing of the CPC to discuss the Akin House is scheduled for September 24 at 6 p.m. in Room 101 of the Town Hall. Diane also pointed out,CPA has already INVESTED $185,000 to reimburse Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE) who agreed to buy the property. WHALE has raised funds toward its conservation and unfortunately funding sources went dry for WHALE. In this tough economy where non-profits are struggling along with everyone else, we are fortunate that Dartmouth had the foresight and vision to pass CPA back in 2002. 1. No CPA funds were used for any restoration to date. The CPA funds were exclusively used to fund the acquisition of the property (actually they were paid to WHALE, which advanced the funds based on reassurance of reimbursement.)
2. Historic preservation is necessarily an expensive and unpredictable process. It always costs more, often substantially more, than the cost of simply constructing an equally functional structure from the start. The value of the expenditure comes from the preservation of community history and character, and not simply the recovery of the building’s function.
3. Far from being a handy man special, the Akin House is currently the most significant preservation project occurring in Dartmouth. It has received $180,000.00 in private and foundation gifts, evidencing both its widespread support and the community’s apprehension of its value. There is no other preservation project now occurring or on the horizon that comes close to it in either historical or architectural significance, or in receipt of private monetary support.
4. The Community Preservation Act mandates the expenditure of 10% of CPA funds on historic preservation projects. The fund has accumulated over $350,000 plus there are other funds that aren’t earmarked for a particular purpose that we can compete for. Exactly what is the Committee waiting for? Why would it hold onto these funds and let the Akin House be the victim of demolition by neglect?
Please make sure that you attend this important hearing and that your strong voices for preservation are heard. Haven’t we been through enough already just trying to preserve our heritage?
What are your thoughts, Is this a worthy project? Leave your comment below.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Akin House funding sought
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10 comments:
Ask for a complete accounting of what has been spent on the Akin and you will find a significant amount of money spent on fundraising.
Also, over $116,000.00 was paid to the firm that started to renovate the Akin House and yet, the School Department had to come to the rescue and shore up the building before it fell down.
Evindently, the new roof was too heavy as nothing was done to the support structure of the building.
That building is a waste of time and money.
Isnt it conflict of interest to head a trust like this and be a selectman? Was the school dept compensated for time and effort on this project?
What did the school department do to shore up this building. Your reference is vague and I have no idea what they did. Are you saying the School Committee authorized spending on this project? When and how much? Did they spend $116,000 on this and then had no money for textbooks?
There appears to be many facts have been missed here. First, WHALE couldnt afford this project, Diane's group (DHPT) then voiced interest. However the property could NOT be legally given to the DHPT and had to be given to the TOWN. Yes, the TOWN OF DARTMOUTH owns the property not the DHPT. The DARTMOUTH HISTORICAL COMMISSION, was presented an idea to lease this property to the DHPT with assurances that the DHPT will act post haste to preserve the building. This was one of many conditions of the lease agreement.
It has now come to light the grant, the DHC was told by the DHPT was a done-deal, is not true. There is no grant money. The DHPT has done $0 fundraing on their own.
This process was a back-door-attempt to undermine town meeting and place the property in the TOWNS hands. This property is unsafe and is a HUGE liability for the town.
Congrats town taxpayers, your leaders did it to you again.
IF the CPC approves this, its your tax money at work. Sadly after being promiseed by GAGNE and GILBERT that NO TAX money would ever be used.
For the record,The DARTMOUTH HISTORICAL COMMISSION is the deeded owners of the Akin house and NOT the DHPT.
For further info contact the DHC and obtain the minutes of the meetings.
Also, when this was first proposed to the CPC, it was explicitly stated that they would not come back to them for additional funds for the project. Guess what?
Also, to anon (whatever), this had nothing to do with the school department or monies being spent by the school department. I believe, the head of maintenance was used to shore up the building, but not sure if it was on work time or his personal time.
Although my knowledge of these conservation/preservation/historical societies, and their money source, is quite limited, I have a difficult time hearing requests for money at a time when any money given out (taxpayers) should directly benefit everyone in Town, whether through services or education.
It is true that MGagne/DianeG said this would not cost town a penny...They promised.
I dont think at this time this project is worth the funding with taxpayer money. We just had many overrides, the incrase costs of heat has yet to be seen. the CPC should vote NO.
I spoke with the Superintendent and he told me all work was done on personal time and the employee was paid by the people involved. The repairs needed to be made on an emergency basis since the new roof was bowing out the walls and the building was in danger of collapse. NO school funds were spent on this project
CPC funds do not come from the General Fund. They are raised from a surcharge on the tax levy and matched by the state. There are restrictions on the uses of the funds as well. They can only be used for open space and historical preservation, recreational facilities, and affordable housing. Since the town accepted the CPC surcharge, we are talking about money that we have, not which must be raised
Using these funds does not take away any funding from town departments. It is a matter of choosing between the projects that meet the criteria in one of the three categories. As Ms. Gilbert pointed out 10% of the funds must be used for historical or open space preservation.
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