[MassHistPres] Our Town Hall

[Nancy Dole]

West Tisbury  is planning an addition to  the town hall built in the 1800's, and restoration of the existing building, which is absolutely gorgeous but has not been maintained. 

The town originally approved 3,500,000 for the project, as requested, but the building committee underestimated, and came back to ask for an additional 1,500,000 which the town rejected.

That was a few years back, now a new committee has promised to deliver a town hall for a figure somewhere in between, and they are cutting corners left and right to make it happen.  It goes before the Town at the annual meeting in April for approval.

But first it comes to the HDC. 

The design of the addition is not bad. It fits. The original building needs a basement. The plan is to lower the building, at least a foot, removing the granite foundation which was brought to the Island as ballast in ships, is original, and substantial in height. They plan to sell the granite. 

They want to use AZEK for all new trim, or any trim that must be replaced, because it doesn't require maintenance like wood does.The architect says it can be molded to match the details of the original trim, and that from 15 feet away you can't tell it isn't wood.

They want to remove all the existing windows and replace them with aluminum clad, they are looking at marvin, eagle or KML.  Not custom. Too expensive. maximum 7/8" mullions.

They want to put solar panels on the south roof. Flush, but they will be visible, although the building is three stories high. 

The previous, rejected, addition and restoration was expensive but excellent: wood trim, custom wood windows, retain the granite etc. The committee says if we require these things the project cannot be delivered at the price they promised the town. The building will have to be sold, and the town will lose the most important building in the historic district. 

Yes they have requested CPA funds, 100,000 a year for 5 years, but they don't want to request more because the town wants to use the funds mostly for affordable housing, which Martha's Vineyard has very little of.

Does anyone know of a town hall, or a similarly important building,  that has replaced wood with AZEK? Used aluminum clad windows to replace wood? Removed the original foundation?

We have not allowed any of those things to be done in any of the private residences in the district. We have consistently required they retain the granite foundation, no AZEK, and windows must be wood.  

We are seeking input from all of you who have been in this situation, or have seen aluminum clad and AZEK used in an historic building. 

Thanks,

Nancy Dole