Sandwich historical group seeks Clark-Haddad Hall curator-ship
"...The Sandwich Historical Commission in this regard is working on the idea of creating a curator-ship for the building, involving somebody or a group who would move in and take up occupancy.
Commission member Lisa Hassler, a realty agent and historical preservation enthusiast who lives in the Clark-Haddad neighborhood is spearheading that effort.
The commission has talked with neighbors. Commission chairman Terry Blake says the neighbors don’t want Clark-Haddad to be sold. They prefer preservation and occupancy...." (Click here for Full Story)
Several years ago, a former School Committee acknowledged the obvious when they voted to move the School Administration Offices out of its decrepit Dewey Ave location and into the High School Building. This certainly seemed logical -- the move increased operational efficiency and decreased maintenance costs. It was also assumed that once the building was declared surplus and sold it would increase municipal cash flow -- money that could be used to reduce some of the other capital needs facing the Town.
Not that easy.
Now, several years later, the building continues to decay, as people wander around in circles thinking of ways to save an insignificant building that is only "old" -- not "historical". Nothing of great note ever happened in that building (I don't care which local gadfly went to kindergarten there!!).
One group was interested in "taking" it --- but only if a substantial amount of tax dollars could be used to to relocate it. There has been substantial hand-wringing, silly speeches at Town Meeting, and open houses with a handful of people ... but nobody with their own checkbook.
Speaking as one of the folks who voted to vacate and dispose of the building several years ago, and as one of the 21,950 people in Town who do not see long-term maintenance of a future firetrap as a municipal priority -- Get on with it! I don't support accepting the maintenance costs and liabilities associated with providing free or reduced-rate space for any organization,
Sell the damn building.
As much fun as these tempests in a teapot are, we have far more important issues facing us: the Power Plant tax valuation, Wing School/Municipal Office consolidation, STEM/School re-alignment, Public Safety Building, etc.
We continue to get tangled up in our own shorts. Our local leaders need to be willing to risk offending the Hysterical Crowd and say "enough is enough." Sell the unused building, eliminate maintenance & utility costs, increase tax revenue, and move on!
11 comments:
The Truth Maker would also add that given the present diolog over this fire trap of a building. We would save the towns tax dollars and its adminastrators time by declaring this building surplus and sell it ,
Then again why not ask the person who stood up at town meeting when this subject was brought up to put a plan in place, where he pays the town for the building and then donates it to the historical society for what ever use they decide they can salvage out of it.
It was a good show on town floor as to the historical value and in my opinion the reasons presented where not of any value.
Then again why not let the Sandwich Economic Committee take it over and utilize all there economic knowledge to make this building into a profit for the town.
In the end a great deal of retoric has been spoken in regards to this unused,sick building that will likely succome to the on going decaying process that has been transpiring for the last 20 or so years.
Make a decision to sell it, but get the property back on the tax rolls and away from town politics, for the longer it goes on the less likely any part of the building will be salvagable. The present building has so many building and health code violations now that it should be torn down, before it gets turned into another place the homeless will take shelter in for the winter. The town can ill afford to put good money into a bad investment for the tax payers any longer.
It wasn’t all that long ago that the preservationists in our fine town suggested expanding this historic district and labeling all structures over 100 years old as inherently worthy of protection. Preservationists and others, frequently confuse old with historic. Why this neighborhood and so many others along 6A need to be blighted by eyesore properties like this is beyond me.
The BOS has been waiting for the Historical Committee to weigh in since the HC had their public forum on the subject. I guess the Broadsider article is the official weigh in.
In Bob's words, it's not that simple.
In this case the General Laws of the Commonwealth are designed to assure that we get twisted up in our knickers. As one Selectman, I would be delighted to sell the property to a good home (or to become a good home). But, the BoS needs permission from Town Meeting. We asked for the OK and due, in part, to eloquence from the floor permission was denied.
Separately, over 50 years ago Sandwich opted into the Old Kings Highway Historic District. That state legislation sets up the OKHHD committee, a locally-elected, seven-member group. Under state law they hold the authority to prohibit moving or demolishing any structure north of route 6. They can also stop one from painting his house a different color or using vinyl siding or Asic trim or the wrong style windows. If the BoS did get permission to sell, then any prospective buyer would be subject to rulings by the OKHHDC.
So, it's not a matter of lack of fortitude. State law forbids selling without a TM vote. State law governs what the Town of Sandwich or any other owner can do with it. Any building north of route 6 is subject to the rulings of the OKHHDC whether it were built in 1851 or is still on the drawing board.
The Truth Maker would ask Mr. Pierce, why is that if the will is there to sell it, that a better case cannot be found to asimulate the truth as to the actual significance of this building??
Some of the reasons given by those whom have decided to save it have not been factual in nature and there in lies the crux of making a case that is more truthful in nature as to why we the town of Sandwich, need to reconsider another vote on town floor.
Every one is aware that this is nothing more then a political football and depending upon who it serve best at that time determines the outcome.
If those that find this building that is presetly infested with all sorts of building code violations and health issues a progect worth saving, let them come up with the cash to do so. The taxpayers do not need another building that should have been taken down years ago to support the whims of political adgenda between the Historical Society and the Chamber of Commerce.
You can be assured that the present course of action only delayes, that this land will ever be placed back on the tax rolls where it should be now. How many tax dollars has the town lost over the years because we all stand around with our fingers pointing at one another saying lets save another building that has zero value, but it plays into the power struggle between advancing our town into the next century or staying with the horse and buggy mentality.
This eye sore among others in Sandwich located in the Historical Society and there rule need to get a real life reality check to put progress in the fore front of how Sandwich will appear in the future.
Look across the bridge to other towns that look more like a war zone then a town, that is what we will be facing given the present diolog along Main Street Sandwich
I totally agree with the Truth maker. The BOS, Town Manager and FINCOM must take the lead and argue strongly against wrong reasoned, wrongheaded policy decisions made by committees or Town Meeting.
They must make clear that they (the BOS, Town Manager and FINCOM) are unwilling to finance and promote these projects.
The BOS, Town Manager and FINCOM must come back immediately to Town Meeting, take the lead and argue strongly to undue wrong reasoned, wrongheaded policy decisions made by committees or Town Meeting.
I remember discussions of my mother's friends when the Old Kings Highway Historic District was formed. I remember the purpose was to keep 6A in Sandwich from becoming like 28 through Falmouth, Barnstable and Yarmouth. I remember what 6A was like 60 years ago. Now if I could just remember where I put my keys ;-)
Over the years the scores of people who have served on the OKHHD Committee have done a magnificent job. Route 6A still looks and "feels" like it did. Yet, hundreds of new homes, additions and modifications have taken place in the OKHHD which encompasses all of Sandwich north of Route 6.
There has been a tax base penalty in the form of restricted commercial development. Some of the hoops owners have to jump through to modify a building can seem excessive.
But, in my opinion, overall a great job. I'm confident that with good will and perhaps a little compromise a good solution will be found for the Sand Hill School.
I'm so tired of the Patrick Ellis types jumping up at Town Meeting bemoaning that these Town-owned building cannot to sold at any cost. Bringing back the whimsical times of olde and claiming that some great historical injustice will ensue should these dilapidated eye sores be stricken from the town’s possession. God forbid we put historic restrictions and get these buildings back on the tax roles. I can’t understand why Sandwich continues to purchase property and buildings it cannot maintain. To clip a popular slogan from our favorite VP candidate to hate…..Sell baby sell!!!
Part of the problem is that FinCom has been hobbled by some extremely lame appointments over the past few years.
The Charter Committee should have discussed the make-up of FinCom -- the meetings I have watched on TV (not many, I admit) have been pathetic. With a few exceptions, the members seem to have their own pet agendas, or seem to be generally clueless.
There should be some sort of training/experience requirement to be on a board that allegedly serves as a "financial watchdog".
The Truth Maker would respond to Mr. Pierce that in the majority of situations that the OKHHD has done the job they were given permission to oversee. No one can deny that, but this is like comparing apples to oranges.
Or better yet comparing a real historical building like Town Hall that actually made history and set the tone in how Sandwich began its early roots in the cultural development here in Sandwich.
Now on the other hand we shout out lets save this building because of the names it was given to observe a patriotic cause. The facts will show that would not stand up in any court system in todays world. Those whom use this reason actually in my opinion demeaner those we honor today that actually did in fact die in battle fighting for a cause that Myself and others have fought for. Liberty is not cheap, nor is life, but we all should give proper credit for the proper reasons.
The two names will live on where all of the citizens can observe with dignity the memorial in the center of Sandwich. It will live on with the names enscribed on the Sandwich Boardwalk. It will live on with a baseball team and rightfully so an American Legion Post here in Sandwich. They have been rightfully honored, for what they gave while being trained for a battle they never had a chance to participate in.
As vet. myself using a building that many over time decided to make name changes to show some support for what they may have or may not done only speaks more about a building that was used to provide a political feel good situation. One must ask the question , if the names meant anything at all, why was it changed over the years and not kept whenever some group felt the need to do so.
What we have here plain and simple in my opinion is a group of folks have decided to over use the power they have been given to make there own adgendas, all for the detriment of the whole town itself.
Reastablish, the resolve, to sell this property for the right reasons, we need the money to help pay for our new safety building that will provide new economic development here in Sandwich , that hopefully one day will bring in new jobs, business, while protecting the real historical value we here in Sandwich, so cherish.
I await your responce. Mr. Pierce
Very well said Truthmaker! It makes me sad to think that anyone thinks that the rotted, broken window building is a tribute to anyone. Put a plaque on a rock somewhere in town where people will see it and remember that people have given up their lives for our country. Sell the property and let the town move on.
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