CPA Funds Recommended For Baptist Church Restoration

HARWICH –  The community preservation committee is recommending that town meeting spend just over $2.3 million in Community Preservation Act funds for 10 projects at the May annual town meeting, including $667,500 to restore the envelope of the historic West Harwich Baptist Church. 
 The community preservation committee (CPC) also approved $650,000 for the affordable housing trust’s use in developing affordable housing, along with a $100,000 contribution toward each of two affordable housing projects to be developed by Pennrose, LLC, in the town of Chatham.
 The funds for the West Harwich Baptist Church would be used for exterior renovation, the critical work required to stabilize and preserve the structure for future generations, according to applicant John Carey. The improvements will secure the building against further deterioration and provide the foundation for its long-term restoration and reuse, his application stated.
“Once restored, the building will be repositioned as the West Harwich Meetinghouse, a cultural center open to all. This revitalized space will host community forums, lectures, concerts, fundraisers, historic talks, art and cultural performances and more,” he wrote in his application. “It will provide a vital gathering place that connects residents, celebrates local history, and strengthens the sense of community in Harwich.”
“Our economy, the town, the Cape is very dependent on tourism and people come here for the authenticity we have,” Carey’s aunt, Moira Mcdermott, told the committee. “They comment on how authentic our part of the Cape is, and we need to keep that. They see the history of what our town was like and I think the Baptist Church will be a part of that. They will enjoy the historical architecture, the beauty of the building.” 
Ellen Briggs, President of Protect Our Past, said the iconic identity of Cape Cod needs to be protected and she very much supports the restoration of the church.
West Harwich resident and planning board Chair Duncan Berry said this project will help to turn the West Harwich economy around.
Committee member Kathy Green wanted to know how the town’s investment in this project would be protected. Committee member Mary Maslowski said the money is for the restoration of the exterior facade and the select board would craft a preservation restriction that includes continued upkeep of the envelope of the building. 
 The CPC endorsed the use of $650,000 for the town’s affordable housing trust to allow for analysis, promotion of public discussion, maintenance and the creation of affordable housing units to meet housing needs. Funds would also be directed to assist renters in financial difficulties, according to the application. Pennrose, the company selected to develop the 60 units of affordable housing on the former Marceline property at 456 Queen Anne Rd, was also before the CPC seeking financial assistance for two projects the developer is undertaking in Chatham.
The company filed applications for $100,000 from the community housing category for each of the two developments. Pennrose was selected by the town of Chatham to develop 42 affordable and workforce units on Meetinghouse Road and 48 affordable and workforce units at 1533 Main St. The CPC has recommended that town meeting fund those requests.
 The committee recommended the use of $350,000 for the recreation department’s replacement of irrigation systems at the Veterans Memorial Field complex behind the community center, at Memorial Softball Field and at Potters Softball Field. These fields are considered by the recreation department to be three of the more heavily used town fields.
The committee also approved $225,000 for the Harwich Conservation Trust to purchase 17.75 acres, 11 acres of which are uplands, along Robbins Pond.
The conservation and natural resources departments received the approval for $138,000 from the recreation category to conduct a water quality assessment of Hinckley’s Pond. The pond went through an assessment several years ago and received an alum treatment, but additional water quality issues have arisen that require in-depth water quality and sediment assessments and a management plan, according to the application.
The natural resources department also received support for two applications seeking funding in the recreation and open space categories: $35,793 to replace outdated water quality monitoring equipment and $25,107 for educational materials and to replace tanks and floors in the town’s shellfish lab on Wychmere Harbor. 
The Community Development Partnership received support for $10,000 from the community housing category to assist in funding the Lower Cape Housing Institute, which addresses housing needs on the Cape.
The final funding decision on these 10 articles will be made at the annual town meeting in May.