Great Barrington Community Preservation Committee Meeting - December 10, 2025

On December 10, 2025, the Great Barrington Community Preservation Committee (CPA) held a meeting to continue Step 2 presentations of funding requests for community preservation projects. Chairperson noted slippery roads and that Ms. Van Alst attended via Zoom. The meeting reviewed four applications: the UU Meeting of South Berkshire's roof replacement, the Du Bois Freedom Center's basement rehabilitation, a privately-owned historic building at 1100 Main Street, and a town-wide document preservation and digitization project by the Town Clerk. Discussions focused on project details, public benefit, leveraging, and prioritization for the upcoming fiscal year.

UU Meeting of South Berkshire – Roof Replacement

• Bill Young presented on behalf of the UU Meeting of South Berkshire, requesting $37,000 in CPA funding to complete the final phase of roof replacement at 1089 Main Street in Housatonic, a National Register-listed building constructed in 1892. The three-year exterior preservation effort has raised approximately $180,000 in private funds. Two roof sections were completed in September 2025 with a prior CPA award. The remaining section is scheduled for summer 2026. Committee members praised the project's stewardship and public benefit, noting the building serves as community space for nonprofits. Martha remarked the church looks “fabulous,” and Mr. Mercer highlighted the extensive work done. No opposition was expressed; the application appeared broadly supported.

Du Bois Freedom Center – Phase 1B Basement Rehabilitation

• Jeannie (via Zoom), representing the Du Bois Freedom Center (formerly Clinton Church Restoration), requested $250,000 toward Phase 1B basement work, including lifting the building 24 inches, addressing water infiltration, and creating code-compliant headroom. The project has raised approximately $821,000 in individual donations, $485,000 in programming grants, and $2.6 million in capital grants. Committee member Mr. Mercer expressed concern over total project cost (estimated over $4.5 million plus a future build-out of several million dollars). Rich asked about the number of phases; Jeannie explained the project evolved from two phases to three, with Phase 2 (interior fit-out) still ahead. Chris confirmed the basement phase budget is $1.6 million. Rich questioned urgency, and Jeannie stated the building is currently a dry shell, but the basement work is needed to move forward. No decision was made, but questions about cost and phase complexity were raised.

1100 Main Street – Historic Building Repairs

• Ethan and Gina Ackerman requested $400,000 for foundation repair (dolomite stone) and window replacement/restoration at 1100 Main Street, a privately-owned former mill office building in Housatonic. The building is not yet on the historic register but is being nominated. Committee members questioned public benefit (building is for-profit, currently used as art studios), lack of leverage (only 17% of the request secured), and absence of Mass Historic grant applications. The applicant argued the urgency of deterioration and 45 years of family stewardship. Ms. Van Alst suggested waiting for historic designation to clarify scope. Jim expressed support for the building’s landmark status but said it needed more work. Pat noted the committee has many requests and must prioritize town projects. Kate asked why no construction loan was sought. The committee suggested the applicants refine bids, pursue historic designation, and potentially return later. The application was viewed as incomplete but with merit.

Town Clerk Document Preservation & Digitization

• Town Clerk Josh Ryzen requested $400,000 to preserve and digitize historical town records, including those in his office vault and older documents in the basement, a legal requirement. An initial vendor estimate was $423,641.95 for the vault alone; basement records may exceed $1 million. Committee members noted the unfunded mandate and the need for phasing. Discussion centered on first funding a professional assessment ($20,000–$30,000) to inventory, prioritize, and identify funding sources, rather than committing to the full project. Martha and Kate advocated for hiring an independent consultant (not a vendor) to create a phased plan. Steve suggested bonding or leveraging town and federal grants. Jeremy asked for guidance from the Select Board. Pat proposed the committee consider funding an assessment this year and revisit next year. Josh agreed to revise his Step 2 application to focus on an assessment. He will resubmit by December 18.

Key Outcomes

• The committee expressed support for the UU Meeting roof project; formal vote expected at a future meeting.
• The Du Bois Freedom Center application was discussed; no vote taken; committee will continue review.
• The 1100 Main Street application was deferred; applicant encouraged to seek historic designation, secure more leverage, and return with refined plans.
• For the Town Clerk project, the committee directed Josh Ryzen to submit an amended Step 2 application targeting a professional assessment of the document collection. Next steps include resubmission by December 18, 2025, with a possible decision at the January 13, 2026 meeting.