Council proceeds with demolition meeting without Holyoke YMCA
Date: 11/15/2013
By G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.comHOLYOKE – City Councilor Aaron Vega has called for a meeting on Nov. 21 to discuss the fate of the Herbert Farr mansion, but one key player said they have not been told of the meeting or invited: The Greater Holyoke YMCA.
The meeting will be 6:30 p.m. at City Council Chambers in City Hall.
The YMCA is planning to demolish the mansion at 399 Appleton St. in order to build an additional parking lot. The property is now close to the end of a six-month reprieve from demolition issued by the Holyoke Historical Commission, Daphne Board, one of the neighbors trying to save the mansion, explained to Reminder Publications.
When asked about the meeting, Kathy Viens, executive director of the YMCA, said, “We have not been informed.” She said the decision to buy the 19th century home and level it for a parking lot was “made by the board of directors.”
She added, “We have been willing to sit and listen to people,” but added that the YMCA’s involvement in the meeting will also depend on the format of the forum.
According to information on the website designed to call attention to the plight of the mansion (www.savethefarrmansion.org), the YMCA purchased the building for $55,000 from one of its board members Kirk Mackey in December 2011.
Board explained the developer, Stephen Bosco, had proposed buying the building from the YMCA to renovate it. His plan included having a café on the first floor and office space on the second. As part of his proposal, Bosco was offering to work with the YMCA on developing more parking.
Board said the city painted parking space lines on Pine Street, which is one way, which encourages people to park on both sides of the street near the YMCA.
She also expressed concern about taking property that could be redeveloped and be put back on the tax rolls. Having part of the nonprofit YMCA’s campus “continues to erode the tax base,” she said.
Mayor Alex Morse said, “The YMCA is an important organization that does amazing work in our community. Being a member myself, I know firsthand how popular a place it is. I have met with the Y about this issue and understand their need for additional parking. I also understand the concern of neighborhood residents who have made valid points about the oversaturation of paved lots, and agree the proposed use does not necessarily fit into the recently approved Urban Renewal Plan. My office is committed to working with the all the members of the neighborhood, including the Y, to alleviate issues around parking and the perception of it being unsafe. We have offered the city’s assistance in helping with painting lines/crosswalks, signs, etc.
“We are also exploring the possibility of requiring the Y to apply for the required zone change before any demolition would take place. The option to have a taxpaying business, like a café and/or office space or another positive use is best for the neighborhood, and best for the City. It is disappointing to learn that the Y rejected an offer from a well-respected developer to purchase the building without meeting with them to discuss it. My hope is that the Y will reconsider their position and meet with the developer to find a plan to work for everyone,” Morse continued.
According to the information in the Holyoke Historical Commission Demolition Delay Order, “Built in 1881, the red-brick Queen Anne style residence embodies the distinctive characteristics of Holyoke’s finest late 19th century residential neighborhoods. Details on the house, including brackets, iron grill work above bay windows and carved vine motifs point to the Farr family’s prominence in the city.
“Joseph Metcalf, Farr’s brother-in-law and partner in the company, had a mirror image house next to Farr’s until it was demolished in 1965 for a structure that was never built. This is the only remaining building that can preserve the history of both Farr and Metcalf, the area’s largest and most forward thinking employers.”
