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Date: 12/19/2022
NORTHAMPTON – The city of Northampton continues to take gradual steps in creating a Community Resilience Hub for the community.
During a meeting on Dec. 15, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra presented a financial order asking that $1 million be appropriated from free cash to cover the gap of some costs required to complete the due diligence acquisition of the First Baptist Church building on 298 Main St for potential reuse as the Community Resilience Hub.
In a unanimous vote, the council elected to transfer the order to the consent agenda, meaning it will officially be voted on next City Council meeting.
Background
For several years, Northampton, and its partner Community Action Pioneer Valley (CAPV), have been actively seeking a location for this hub.
According to press release sent to Reminder Publishing, the idea for a Community Resilience Hub began in 2019 as a key recommendation from the report, “A Downtown Northampton for Everyone: Residents, Visitors, Merchants and People at Risk.”
Planning for this hub was accelerated in 2020 after the coronavirus pandemic emphasized the need for this resource.
Under former Mayor David Narkewicz, the Office of Planning & Sustainability and the mayor’s office convened meetings with architects, local and regional stakeholders, and service providers. Community Action Pioneer Valley became the city’s social service partner and lead operational partner for the hub and collaborate on support services it would ultimately provide.
In late 2021, Reminder Publishing reported that the city has a program to create a Community Resilience Hub “as a downtown facility with a coordinated program for frontline communities and any residents who face chronic and acute stress due to disasters, pandemics, climate change and other social and economic challenges.” A hub would look to provide access to a resource, a social network and building social resilience.
First Baptist Church
The First Baptist Church location was chosen after an extensive real estate search and extensive advertising for proposals. The city has now entered the due diligence phase of this process.
“I am proud to announce a giant leap forward toward realizing a Community Resilience Hub in Northampton. The search for a home for these critical services has been exhaustive, but I believe this building has been worth the wait,” said Sciarra, in a statement. “We will start due diligence immediately. We hope to convert this long-vacant space into Northampton’s Resilience Hub as quickly as possible. I am profoundly excited to repurpose this historically significant building in service for the people of Northampton as a day center with programming and services for vulnerable residents, a community space, and a center for emergency response during times of crisis.”
According to the mayor’s office, Northampton has now secured full funding for due diligence, purchase and carrying costs. The city has designated $1.6 million in cannabis mitigation funds, along with $506,872 in Community Development Block Grant funds, a $200,000 gift from Smith College and $53,268 in other donations for the hub project, including the purchase of the building.
The First Baptist Church, which is located between Forbes Library and downtown Northampton, has approximately 14,500 square feet of space and was built in 1904 by the First Baptist Church of Northampton to replace a church that had been destroyed by a fire in 1863.
In 1988, the First Baptist Church congregation merged with the First Congregational Church to create First Churches of Northampton. The building has been vacant since 1993, when it was purchased by a developer and Iron Horse Entertainment Group owner Eric Suher with the intention of turning it into a music venue and catering facility.
City Council meeting
During the Dec. 15 meeting, Sciarra said that the hub would essentially serve four purposes. It would serve as a day hub for frontline vulnerability members who need certain amenities like showers, lockers, internet, and more.
The location would also be a connection hub providing services and support for housing, food security, job-seeking and various recovery services while also acting as a broad community space for meetings or other creative endeavors.
Lastly, the hub would provide crisis response in case of an environmental crisis or other unforeseen emergencies.
“We want this particular building to serve those purposes and do it in a really beautiful and inviting place that people want to use and that reaffirms a feeling of belonging and dignity and community here,” said Sciarra.
The mayor also added that the building will incorporate public health offices from the city’s Department of Health and Human services. “We are asking a lot of this space, but we believe this building fits the bill,” said Sciarra. “There’s been a huge number of improvements [at First Baptist] that are also really important and valuable for our project.”
According to Carolyn Misch, the city’s director of planning & sustainability, it is really important that this money moves forward because there are a few COVID-19-related grants that the city must spend by May in order for the project to move forward.
“Once we close, we’ll also be seeking out funding to fit out the building and finish the rest of the work for the interior,” said Misch.
All of the councilors appeared supportive of the purchase of the church, which will cost $3.3 million total.
“I’m glad that this building is going to be used finally,” said Councilor Garrick Perry, whose ward features the church. “I honestly think that this is the best use for that space.”
According to Sciarra, the seller of the property is looking to move “as fast as possible” to get the purchase completed. The city is working with Jones Whitsett architects for the due diligence process.
“As long as we continue achieving these steps along the way, we hope we can close by the end of April,” said Misch.
Once the closing happens, the city will begin the process of hiring a firm to do the design for the fit-out. According to Misch, construction could take well over a year, however, the city has the option of developing the hub in phases so part of it can at least be occupied.
“The spaces can be divided in a way that is safe to be occupying one space while still working on another space,” said Misch. “Construction typically for a building of this size takes a while.”