GREENFIELD — Regardless of whether the Massachusetts Historical Commission grants the city permission to demolish the most recent addition to the historic Leavitt-Hovey House, the mayor said any kind of proposal is effectively “dead in the water,” as she won’t allow it to happen with city funds.
The Greenfield Historical Commission, which sent an inquiry to the Massachusetts Historical Commission as to whether the addition built onto the current Greenfield Public Library can be removed, voted last week in favor of its removal as a way of supporting its inquiry to the state commission. Local Historical Commission members argued that tearing down the addition, located at the back of the eastern side of the building, would make the building more stylistically and historically consistent, and would improve the view of it from the new library that is being constructed next door.
“It may not be done right away, but we wanted to have that possibility authorized or not,” said Historical Commission member Margo Jones. “There is a preservation restriction on the building, so anything that’s done to it has to be approved by the Mass. Historical Commission.”
Mayor Roxann Wedegartner explained Monday that she was recently approached by members of the Library Building Committee, inquiring whether it would be possible to take down that portion of the existing library. At the time, she said, she requested more research.
Jones “agreed to do some of the legwork on that, including gathering documents and coming up with a drawing for what it would like” after demolition, Wedegartner said.
The addition was built in 1955, Jones told members of the local Historical Commission last week. It was originally built as a carport for a bookmobile before it was enclosed and eventually developed into a part of the children’s reading room.
“It’s not consistent with the rest of the building,” Jones said. “It is an eyesore when you’re looking out to the west of the new library building.”
Jones also noted that the removal of that part of the building would help accommodate handicapped parking for the new building. She acknowledged the tree by the building is also “in the way.”
Wedegartner said while she doesn’t take issue with the removal of the addition, she wouldn’t allow the city to pay for the demolition and has no intention of requesting funding from City Council. She noted that neither the grant for the new library could be used, nor the bond the city authorized for the project.
“If they finish under budget, they have to return whatever it is to the city,” she added, referring to the construction of the new library.
Wedegartner said Historical Commission members got a little ahead of themselves last week when they voted unanimously in support of the inquiry to the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Wedegartner said she followed up with Jones on Friday to clarify where she stood.
“We do not have funding to remove the addition,” Wedegartner said.
Historical Commission member Tim Blagg previously said the Leavitt-Hovey House, which was built in 1797 by designer/builder Asher Benjamin, has had multiple uses throughout its history, including housing a doctor’s office. The structure has been added to, gutted and further modified since it was constructed.
Wedegartner said the building’s next use, once the library moves into the new building next door in the spring, is still “to be determined.” One use she has considered is repurposing it for city office space. She previously said that while the building wasn’t suitable as a public library, it could serve the city in another capacity.
“It makes sense in many ways,” Wedegartner said. “We are busting at the seams in City Hall, in terms of space. When we hire people, it’s difficult to find a place for them.”
In particular, Wedegartner envisions the Planning and Development Department, the Community and Economic Development Department and the Building Inspections Department being housed under one roof.
She said the city sought requests for proposals twice, and in both instances failed to get responses back. Acknowledging future capital expenditure requests needed for repairs to the building, Wedegartner said it wasn’t out of the question the building would become more marketable to an investor.
“We’re a ways away from making those decisions,” she said. “I have to think about that and figure out what a plan would be.”
Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.