1.9.2026 Community Preservation Comittee

Welcome to the community preservation committee meeting being held at the one government center. We're in the uh city council hearing room. It's uh Friday, January 9th, uh 6:00 p.m.

Uh pursuant to the open meeting laws, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium.

Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and deemed acknowledged and permissible.

to wish everybody a happy new year, too.

And uh uh tonight uh we're here to listen to the EL eligibility round. Um as we go forward, if we don't call you up, that means you had a good nice completed application. Uh we might have some questions. So if you come up, just your name, address, property. Uh you don't have to give us a description of your project because we have all that.

Uh your projects will have to meet the secretary of uh interior standards.

There will be a deed restriction put on your property. Uh from tonight uh after the hearing, we'll meet back here for deliberations uh January 14th and then we do our voting uh January 26. So we've tried to speed the process up for early uh funding for folks that want to get hitting the ground summertime. So funding is available. Uh, so with that said, we'll start with roll call to my right.

BJ McDonald, Chris Benvites, did you say something?

James Hornsby here.

John Brandt, Kristen Canara, Oliver, Alexander Silva, Michael Ferris, present, Joanne Bentley, and we're missing Rick Mancini. And we also have Sandy Dennis, our uh admin.

Uh let's see. Uh no, uh citizen input.

Okay. Uh then we move on to the funding round. The first application is the marine museum which uh is looking to restore the windows on the first and second floor of both sides. Um they're looking for 400 uh 369,763.

The total project's 429.

Uh we have given to this project in the past. Um would they do we have questions? We want to call them up.

Yeah.

Okay.

Long identify himself.

He's just getting ready to do that.

Chris Nardi, chief operating officer, Battleship Cove.

All right. Who would like to Sure. I just got a couple questions. One question I have is in regards to this being a museum and whether these windows uh are there any uh valuables that need a certain type of um UV protection on these on these windows. I I'm not quite sure uh what they're protecting. I I've been to the museum. I just don't know if uh there's fine art or stuff of that

nature. Um I've done museums before and that was one of the things that were critical. And then there was also a security thing. So I'm just wanted to make sure that um this particular museum doesn't fall into that latter category.

Well, it does. So the second floor half of this the north side of the second floor is the archive space.

Okay.

Which is secured by two doors. I did discuss with the um with one of the um v uh contractors about a UV film on those windows for exactly that reason.

Okay.

So that's definitely I have a curator background as well. So definitely is a consideration.

Okay. Is it part of this proposal and will it be okay? I I just know insurance components to that. That was one of the questions we had on other projects we've done on museums. Thank you.

With that I rest.

Alex.

Hi. Um, so do you currently have a plan for the second floor? Uh, like for use of it? I know I've heard like in the past like ideas and stuff, but like are you any closer to actually using this space since the past ws and projects being completed like the elevator?

No, not at the moment. So, there were there were discussions with an architect about the the making better use of the space which would include a kitchen and a function room. Um and of course as I said the other part of it is that is the uh is the archives room. So that feeds into having proper climate control for both comfort and protection of the uh artifacts.

Uh but for like the No, there's been no progress on that at the moment. No.

Okay.

Except for the various discussions with the architect. And I know um you gave quotes for um one was an approach for restoration, one was uh for fabrication.

Does the museum have a preference? Um because certainly if it's under the historic preservation category, I mean I personally would prefer uh restoration over fabrication. So is that has any consideration or preference been given?

I personally have preference to so only the only sashes that remain are the ones that outfitted the west side of the building, the the part that faces Water Street. Those sashes are still there.

When they took them out, they put them on they left them on the second floor.

They're in decent condition. So, one of the vendors is a specialist in restoring sashes of that nature. Um, but the rest of them, they're gone. We looked, we asked, we don't know where they are.

They probably disposed of. So, that's a lot. That's a far more expensive option, but if we are able to do that, I would prefer to do that to at least maintain some historic historical integrity to the building.

Okay. So, the u the windows in the application that were referenced as being in storage as you mentioned, it's not it's not all the windows you only the north side.

Okay. Approximately how many is that of what you're asking?

I don't know off the top of my head.

It's it's somewhere south of uh 12, I think.

Is it uh which side? I I actually have a window count. That's what um but which side were you talking about that you have the west? So that's the west side river.

Yeah, you have 16 on there, but they're they're quite oversized and there's a couple of them that are six panel type of layout and so ultimately you're looking at whatever the boards were covering up is replacing.

Correct. Everything was blocked in.

Yeah. Okay.

Thank you, Mr. You're asking I think for 369 I haven't got the paper. Um what happens if we don't fund it totally? Do you have other sources of funding?

We do. So we would phase this in. So we bite off what we can with what we with what we have starting with the front.

That's the most uh impactful I think on in terms of the waterfront and people walking down the street and driving by and going into the museum. that would be the the most uh impactful like I I in my opinion.

Do you have other sources of funding for this project?

We have a endowment or or I don't know what I'm not using the right word but there was a former patron of the museum who passed away and left us an annual sum right that will help us with that.

Right. But you don't have any grants other grants or not at the moment. No.

Thank you.

I just have one other question. If you were to have to phase this project and would it be advantageous to say that the west side looking overwater street and then perhaps the north side overlooking Awan Street where there's more public um circulation would those be kind of a phased project that you would think about and probably will potentially wait on the east side which is kind of the

the storage parking lot area and then the south side which overlooks I know it overlooks the um Pont Delgado, but it's also uh overlooks I believe it's the DPW storage facilities.

So the southside will unless that would Yeah. It can't be done. It's been the live the uh office spaces that were created out there completely changed the structure. Those windows are the the original window uh openings are long gone. Mhm.

We looked at that and it's just not even feasible without you know anything anything's feasible but it's not practically or financially feasible.

But what I what I was saying if if you didn't get the full funding to this would a phased approach be as I as I mentioned we I personally would like to start with the with the water street side the front of the building.

Okay.

I'm open to suggestions but that's that's my preference.

Thank you. Anyone else have any questions?

Thanks.

Thank you. Thank you.

Next, we're moving on to the Bristol County U courthouse improvements. Uh they're looking to do 67 window replacements. Uh looking for 405,000.

Um going to call down for questions.

Grace, could you come down?

Good evening, everyone. Grace Gerling, um, executive director of Greater Fall River Recreation. We are the owners of the facility over at 45 Rock Street.

Uh, who wants to open up for questions?

Alex.

Hi. Um, I just have a couple questions based off your application. I know you said that uh there's been some work done. Actually, let me restart. Um, so I know you've been awarded uh CPA grants in the past uh before my time in the committee. Um, has the was the deed restriction ever put in place on the property for those past projects? Are you aware?

No.

Okay. Um, so are you uh comfortable with a deed restriction being placed on?

Not a problem.

Okay. Um, and I know in your application you said that uh you had done some past work already um specifically with the roof, window, and masonry. Um, do you happen to know if that work complied with Secretary of Interior standards for restoration, rehabilitation or not?

Well, we did um we did replace our roof.

Uh we pretty much did the same type of roof.

uh and uh repointing of the building. Um that's basically what we did on the outside of the facility. Everything else that we have done to the building is um interior work.

Um like painting um new walls, um a new boiler, HVAC system, um sprinkler system, you name it. Yeah, I saw a lot of the internal work that you've done as well.

Yeah, we've done quite a bit.

Um, and then, uh, so my last question is just kind of stemming from it seems like in your application you're more or less determined for fabrication of, um, new windows. Uh, have you explored or has an assessment been done of the existing windows to see if they could be restored? Um, the photos actually looked like they were in fairly decent shape, so I was wondering if that had been explored or not.

No. um especially on the side of uh the older side of the facility cuz there's a 1908 side and then the 1970s 1908 I mean um those those windows are pretty pretty much deteriorated uh over the years uh when I tell you the drafts are pretty bad um they're awful and um as far as being um energy efficient in that facility on the old side. It really isn't.

Okay.

Okay. Thank you.

You're welcome.

I just had one observation. So, I kind of did a a breakdown of all of these window projects and we we have ones that we've uh done in the past.

be given. And so I just noticed that, you know, the cost per window and um was extremely high uh much higher than uh anyone other on these projects. And I'm just wondering if um I I saw the bids. I went through all of the bids if if at all um there are any opportunities for cost savings at bidding this out to other contractors as well. I I tried I I I contacted three others.

Um Scott's uh doors and windows um the person that's running that company, she pretty much told me she she couldn't do the job.

Okay. uh it was out of her uh uh spec as far as like uh she just didn't know how to handle um that particular type of window. And the other two I tried calling them numerous times.

No one ever called me back. Uh Somerset Glass and the um Martelli company uh were the only two that came and actually went throughout the entire facility and gave me a quote. Okay. Yeah. I'm just wondering, I know Rick's not here, but um I'm wondering if we have uh an opportunity to say in the future, these are a dozen companies that do this type of work. And that way we have some kind

of consistency. One, they know how to do the work. Two, the pricing is a little bit more uh in line with other projects.

And I understand the I'm in this business. I understand the dynamics of you know COVID and materials and everything else and ter tariffs but the reality of it is is that it would be a little you'd be comparing apples to apples and I do understand like the museum project you have much oversized they're large they're they're oversized they're trying to reduce st sashes and stuff like this so um I take all that

into consideration before I make these comments but it's just something maybe we could talk with Rick about and figure I know we have design guidelines, but maybe we have contractors in the future so that we can kind of nail down a more coste effective Oh, I I did reach out to Somerset Glass because they've done projects in the past and Scots was another company that Yeah.

um that have worked on historical buildings, but unfortunately they can't work on the on our particular windows.

Gotcha. And would you have to go through a public bid process for the construction of this or um like any type of municipal municipality and also if it's a quasi you know 501 or 50 program do how do you typically handle how did you handle the roof I guess?

So we typically try to get three quotes okay as well uh for any project.

Okay.

Yeah.

You don't have to any major project.

You don't have to go to a public bid process for this. Okay. No, because we're a nonprofit.

Okay.

Mr. Actually, before would you tell I'm I'm having trouble concentrating because I've spent hours and hours in your building when it was uh with a previous usage.

Yeah, you should come now. It's looks totally different.

I have been by once, but Oh, okay. Great. Not quite now, but I would like to tour the one quad would like to tour it. Second question, who to help me control my uh dismay and anger here. Who owned the building and who let it run down so before you moved in?

Um, it was a doctor, um, a chiropractor here in the city with a couple of other individuals. And that side of the building, the old side, it was completely shut down. There were no pipes. Uh there was a lot of water damage. It was it was it was very very bad.

Fight. Right. I I know that.

Yeah. But okay. Same question. And I'll be saying this to other people. If we the newspaper got it right. They had I think they hit us down for as well less than slightly half of all the requests in the the story in the Herald. I think that's about right. Um what what will you do if you get get a partial funding? Do you have any other sources of income?

So we every year we we fund raise. Uh as you know it's difficult to get any kind type of uh cap capital improvement grants. Uh there aren't that many out there. Um so our agency does fund raise and we have fundraised and we have $61,000 that we can put towards the project. Um and we'll just have to continue looking for other maybe foundation um funds. Um we have applied to other foundations for other projects

in the past. We we can uh you know look into uh applying again.

Okay.

Thank you.

Yep.

Any other All right.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Bye. Have a great uh evening.

You too.

All right. Uh, next is the uh, waterfront cultural district uh, study.

Uh, basically the same as the B forms and uh, the bio reserve studies that we're doing. This does have a matching one to it. Is that right?

Uh I don't say they're looking for 48,000 but they're uh requesting 28 uh and the project's 48. So uh Dave, you want to come down for some questions in case somebody Yeah, please.

Sorry, Don. Could you repeat that?

Actually 48.

They're looking for 28,000. Okay.

The total project's 48.

Thank you.

I didn't know if that was a matching grant or if they're just putting the money in theelves of that.

It says there's a a matching grant application in progress. I think yeah, it's pretty straightforward. Does anyone have any questions for on this project?

I'm glad you're doing it. It's it's actually a good project. It was something that's uh again it involves the historic district, you know, which now runs um water cultural district which runs all the way from Columbia Street all the way down to Veterans Park. The issue was there's tremendous amounts of assets down there. Nobody's ever c categorized them. Uh and this project's just going to document that.

They're going to going to interpret the uh a lot of the historic assets um and um you know in in the waterfront district and that'll of course encourage waterfront development um and along with the Route 79 project. So obviously there's a lot of activity on the uh on in that area in the waterfront district.

So nobody's ever done the project before. So, we want to just catalog all those assets. Um, and it'll certainly increase the value and interest in the in the waterfront.

It's a good idea. Thanks.

Thank you.

Thank you.

No other questions?

No, good to go. Application, everything was there.

Okay. Thank you.

Next, we have Shane Landing. Uh, restoring 75 first floor windows, exterior lighting. Uh they're looking for 350,000 uh historic preservation. Uh come down.

Just state your name and Yes.

address. Address.

Oh, all right. My name is Andrew Barkley. I'm with RGB Architects, but I am uh working with Patricia Todd, who is the owner of 104 Anowong or Shane Mill as well as the uh Nine Pond Street, the carriage house.

The microphone.

Yeah, just move the mic closer to you.

Couldn't hear you.

All right. Andrew Barkley with RGB Architects. I'm uh representing Patricia Todd who's here with us this evening in the back, but she has some uh medical procedures. She's not able to move too well. Um, but again, this is for 10 104 Anowan Street, uh, Shane Landing, uh, the mill. Uh, and, uh, so that's we're looking for, uh, some funding to replace, uh, the windows along the first

floor uh, level of a four-story mill, mill number six, the Lamport Mills.

Okay. Does uh, who wants to open up with some questions?

Yeah, I have got a couple of questions.

Um so this proposal is for 75 uh windows total. Again um looking at 35 350,000 roughly 460 $4,666 per window type of scenario. And that's um I was just kind of doing a an analysis like you're looking at replacing all of the front windows uh the first floor windows around the entire building. the east side there's no windows and so um I would assume there's four more there's three more

stories that this will be in front of us for those windows um in the in the future and I'm just wondering uh again as a committee whether it's advantageous that we do the ones that are seen the most like right now the south side is really your um loading dock area your west side is between the buildings and and the um the public that sees the most is on the south side, the Aawan um

portion of the building and I believe the total um it's about 112 windows just on the south side uh give or take roughly and so you're asking for 65. I I'm just wondering one first question would be is uh the first floor what was the the logic behind just doing the whole first floor uh considering half of it is not public space I guess u the first I would say the response to

that is that um the intent is to do all of the windows over time. So the phasing was can we do work on the first level get that sort of watertight and contained and then continue on the upper levels but um so significantly I know it would be too much funding to do it all at one time.

Um I guess I would say the patricia and I'm not shy of you guys.

Yeah. Um so so this is phase three of trying to um secure this building which is right in the middle of the cultural waterfront district. So I use my money to replace the roof. Then we use mass development money to work on the adjoining carriage house and subdivide that. Mhm.

And now this will be the next phase to watertight the mill.

Mhm.

Um first floor windows. We believe I I like your question because I'm expecting not to get all the money I'm asking for. So I'm already strategizing that maybe I just do Pond Street and Anowan. Pawn Street and Anowan are visible to the community, to the Narrows, to Troy City, to the Marine Museum, to the battleship people. We're trying to rent the carriage house out to a cafe.

So, we're trying to do what the city wants, but we can't afford everything, but we need to watertight it. And the windows are not working.

Yeah. I I just didn't know whether you had a a process where you're repointing the building or anything of that nature.

Like if you were to say to me like, "Well, we're reporting the entire south side." Well, it would make sense to do the windows on the south side. I didn't know if you had other things that you were doing, but we do. So, I think we said it was like a $4.5 million project.

Yeah.

Can't remember which Sure.

application, but we are planning on um my my operations guy is here. We are planning on redoing the the loading docks, repointing, and putting new entrances. Okay.

That wouldn't be what we're asking you for.

Okay. Thank you.

Yeah.

Great.

Oh, so is there a plan for the remaining windows after the first floor? Like um what's your I guess game plan going forward?

Yeah, I I shouldn't speak to you, but I engage Patty. Sorry. Yeah, of course we want we want to do the first floor because that's what's going to help the cultural district and that's what people see when they walk. Then we want to do this like to your point about the future. We will ask for the second floor and the third floor and the fourth floor. Like another um woman spoke today, we've gotten quotes

from Somerset Glass, right? They're outrageous.

Um they're way too pricey. Um but we want to do all the windows. We have developers looking at the property. Um but right now we have 100 businesses, not 100 people. We have 100 businesses in the mill. The Boston Globe will say it's abandoned.

It's not. There's 100 businesses in there. So to your point about why don't why why don't we not do the parking lot side which is the north side because we have a hundred customers in there.

It's a working mill. It's not residential and so all of it matters and it's right in the center of the cultural district.

So we want to do the whole mill. We just have to do it in phases.

Sure. No, I understand. I I I I do land development planning and engineering. So I I had a question. It seems to me you got a pretty high occupancy rate there.

Is that correct? Or is there like is the majority of them on the first or second floor or are they throughout all of the all floors? Okay.

All floors. And there's over a hundred.

And so it's it's it's a mill. There's tractor trailers.

There's a lot of cabinet makers, a lot of small sewing factories, a lot of artists recording studios, which is what we want there.

Yep. We want art and creators and craftsmen and and we're trying to do it with the help of Sandy and Dave.

Sure.

Great. Thank you.

Any other?

Um and so the carriage house is that that's on the north side correctly.

Exactly. Correct. So like if the plan is to make it a cafe in theory public would be venturing in that direction for the cafe.

Exactly. And and mass development funded that we subdivided so it's now two parcels. The carriage house now is adorable.

Um but it it's just lending itself and we've been talking to the local restaurant tours to make it a cafe. Mhm.

And then my last question is um I'm assuming you'd be okay with putting a deed restriction on the property if you were awarded a We understand that.

That's it. Thank you.

And I would just throw in that the work that was performed on the carriage house did meet the Secretary of Interior standard. So I've seen it.

Yeah. The the tuck pointing, the window, the door restoration, she has the same intent. That's the same drive. So sounds good. Did turn out nice.

All right. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

See next next is the uh for historical society.

They're looking for 582 uh,000.

Uh the total cost of the project is 3.5.

So they're coming up with quite a bit of the money. Uh, would you guys like to come up?

And then just state your name.

Caroline Auben, Michael Martins, I do want to say that uh when we went in for the the uh tour to show us how the the AVAC system and everything is working and the art, it was fantastic job what they've done and the restoration that you started was fantastic. Whoever got a chance to get in there and see it, the the work has been spectacular.

Unbelievable. It really has. I we don't we don't have anything like that where you go see art like you guys have presented it. So yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Well, so it obviously has been a very costly project and so we're looking at a total cost of 3,57,000 and change and of that 2,924,887,000 has been raised from private foundations and grants outside the area. So yeah.

Okay.

Do we have any uh questions? Somebody we want to start off with?

How much has been raised?

Uh to date uh 2,924,887,000 for this specific project.

I I have no questions. Everything seems to be in order.

All right. Thank you very much.

Appreciate it. Thank you.

Next is the uh Eagle Event Center.

They're looking to do 24 um windows. So looking for 143.

Just state your name, guys.

Amanda Donovan, operations manager, Eagle Event Center.

Christopher Donovan, 132 Albian Street.

Um, so you're looking to replace the windows. Now, this project, if say we wanted to like kind of break it up and do North Main Street and then come back because I think we already have the deed restriction on your property. So, y we've done work there before in the past. So, absolutely.

Now, are any of the windows uh able to be fixed?

That's the that package I gave to you guys. The second package explains every single thing about that about the everyone was getting repaired except the third floor level.

Okay. If you go past the brand new picture there, it'll start showing all the pitch. All the windows on interior are all oak, fully oak from 1929. So they can't be they got to be restored.

So the outside's going to get the glass pulled out. Fix the out exterior of the wood and reglaze all the glasses.

Redo all the hardware. So every window opens and closes back and and then the columns. Well, we're going to fix all the columns as well and all the wood underneath the window. All right.

So, in total, we'll be restoring and reglazing.

How many in the front North side?

Oh, okay.

Um questions?

Yeah. I I just have a couple questions and observations.

I I noticed that the west side, which is the north main street side, uh it looks like you're going to be doing a lot of just the reglazing, restoration, that component of it. Is it is it the second to the third floor? Those square ones, is that what's getting replaced or it's the ones to the south side? I know they're the west side on the top. All the windows on the top

on the third the third s the second floor that's the ones we got to restore 100% restoration back exactly 1930 what they looked like today.

Yep.

The top ones are all falling apart.

Okay.

Like touch.

Yeah.

They're all boarded up from the insides.

Oh, they are. Okay. On the outside you see them. It looks like there's a window there, but on the south side those are all boarded up. You see them externally boarded up. So, we started trying to pull them open years ago. We 20 years and they just poof.

Yeah.

Okay.

And then then I would assume if you're going if this would to be phased, which I think this is a pretty reasonable I did a cost breakdown and it was pretty um digestible. Um but you would concentrate on the the west side which would be the North Main Street because everybody sees that when you're coming down to the gorge downtown.

Perfect.

Great. Thank you.

Any other questions?

Alex.

Hi, Alex.

Um, just a clarification. Uh, the total amount requested, is it 143405 or should it be 133 uh 405? On page six, it seems to indicate that with the 10,000 of other funds. That's that's the 10 to make it 143. So, the ask should be okay. So, the grant request, just for everyone, the grant request amount should be 133405, but we're going to have to rebreak that down if we're going to phase it out

because it will not be as expensive on the first.

Okay.

Okay. Thank you. That's Sorry, one other question. Are the the metal hardware on the outside of these windows, are they getting restored as well? It's looks like they need to be sand blasted, painted.

Oh, yeah. The the grates.

Oh, they're pulling them right I'm pulling right off. sanding every one of them.

Yeah. Okay.

And spraying every one of them back.

It's gonna look exactly like that picture in the front.

Great. Thank you.

Thank you.

And could you just detail some of the work that you've done at the building yourself so far?

All right. So, we have had it for 15 years. In 15 years, we we came in and it was a restaurant. It was a broke down restaurant with a lot of booths, a lot of coolers, a lot of lot of a lot of stuff that just kept piling over the years from the 1930s to 20. So, we ripped out the cooler area. We made a bride's room and a bathroom. We ripped

out all the old TVs. There was a center bar, which was never there in the 1930s.

So, we ripped that right out. Put it back to dance floor exactly the day it was opened. We restored all the glassware inside. All the um all the lights have little glass on them. So, every single one is about 500 of them.

We've did those. All the stained glass windows repaired. All the windows in the kitchen were repaired from our side. We ripped all old kitchen equipment out that was rotting. All the old roof systems we repaired from you guys the roof roof on top on and pretty much a lot of restoration in 15 years. Probably about $200,000 worth.

Thank you. Okay, um would you one of the things that's important to me is how the community benefits and could you you said something of this in your application. Could you expand on that or restate it?

Yes.

So um local residents will benefit from the preservation of a highly visible and symbolic landmark of Fall River um that reflects the city's architectural heritage and pride and it stands as a testament of for resilience and restoration reinforces the community's identity, history and cultural continu continuity.

Um we have events of many caliber. Um ranging from weddings.

Um we work with a lot of nonprofit organizations to host fundraisers and um you know just doing the restoration would obviously um make it more accessible and it would continue the safety of the space.

Okay.

Is there really anything else you'd add on that?

Um, I I would say just uh you know, protecting and enhancing the community character. Um, it's one of the the few long-standing buildings. Um, and you know, we in the work that we've done, we've tried to restore all of the original work and just the beauty of it.

Thank you.

Sounds good. I appreciate that. Any other questions?

I think you guys also do a lot of running the room out for nothing for organizations that need help.

We don't say that, but yeah.

Yes, we do.

We don't need to say it. But that's what the community needs to know.

That's Yeah, I mean, you know, that was the point of my question.

Yes. So, we do donate a lot of uh so that I assume after your answer that you didn't do that anymore.

That's that's not true.

No, I just have We're humbled.

I just have one comment.

Could you give me an example of one or two nonprofits that you've helped?

Yes. Um there's actually uh some sub some listed here.

We got one right here. Deaconist.

Deaconist. Yes.

Angels Anonymous.

Um we just recently did the um Young Fall River Marines um Salvation Army.

This is a donation on your part.

Yes.

Thank you. That's what I was I I do want to thank you. That's a that's a real benefit to the community.

We should toot your horn for one other thing and you've seen the ramifications come to existence on Purchase Street.

There was a whole downtown uh you you allowed us to use your space to do a workshop uh for basically an entertainment district and that did come to fruition. you you see the the um tequila lime and all of the other uh restaurants and activities that have come from there and also you know a lot of the events and festivities and again uh those original workshops were done many years ago

uh and you allowed us to do it and do those workshops there and we appreciate it.

Don't be humble.

It's important.

Thank you.

Thanks guys.

Thank you.

Thank you. have a great evening.

You too.

Um, next we have uh St. An's Church and Shrine. Um, they're looking to repair motor on the west side. Uh, roof gutters, down spouts, motor, additional uh mortar repair on the walls. Uh, they're looking for 125.

uh we've uh granted in the past uh they've always been a pretty good uh u raising money so uh it's always good to tie in who has uh wants to start out with questions they say who are oh go ahead uh good evening uh my name is Jeff Montigney I'm the president of Staint Anne Shrine Preservation Society Bob go treasurer Who wants the questions?

Any questions?

Go ahead.

Could you tell me the name of the person who's do who's going to do the work of his or who has satisfactionally done work in the past?

Yes. the the roof work that we've done uh thus far in both sides of the building with uh Vandal um roofing company.

And the mortar the the mortar um has not been done yet, but we're queuing up East Coast Masonry Restoration for that. They're out of East Providence. Uh I'm sorry, Johnston, Rhode Island.

Say it again.

They are East Coast Masonry and they're out of Johnston.

Thank you.

Yep. You're welcome. And you've you're actually putting uh 820,000 of your money you raised into this.

Well, that that's the total budget that's that's listed and and and it's a phased approach. Um the ne this next mortar uh work that we're looking at doing is approximately 200,000.

All right.

Which we'll have funds to uh to put into that as well.

All right. That's good. Uh questions, Alex, is has there is there any update on the status of the like how you uh how or when you'll be uh re-upping the lease agreement with the dascese for it?

Is there is there just like a schedule or something or I just would hate for it to be kind of waiting till it gets you know too close to the So So um we we don't have a schedule on that. We still have three and a half years to go. We have spoken um with the dasis about it. Uh we do have um I don't know what I would call it um

encouraging um uh letters from them uh that they are uh willing to to look at that and they're happy with what we're doing. Uh we still you know three and a half years away but um I would say that you know it's it's an active um process right now.

Thank you. You're welcome.

Anyone else?

One more.

Is there any I realized interior is there any movement at all on getting the uh the upstairs suitable to live in rather than I know it was falling down and was closed.

So, we're concentrating on just totally sealing the the envelope of the building before we do work upstairs. We are very anxious to to get upstairs, okay, and to and to start that restoration work. But I think between you know this mortar work and the next one of the next um exterior projects will be um additional copper and downspout restoration on the on the back octagon shape the apps of the church. Um

then we can start looking at Yeah. Okay.

working up working upstairs.

That's what I thought. Y Okay.

There we go. No, sounds good. Thanks.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh, next is the for River Deaconist Home. They're looking to restore the the porch. Uh, woodwork painting stabilizing.

Uh, looking for 100,000.

Good evening. Uh my name is Hilda Monise and the address is 603 box street.

Moren Philin, executive director follow Deacon application to me. Do we have questions from the board?

Alex, hi. Um, I was just wondering how long the porch has been in its current condition around.

I'd say in the last about two years. It seems like in the last year especially, it's deteriorated very quickly. Um, we have a team of maintenance who who've been able to do small pieces of it, but at this point, the whole porch really needs to be redone.

All right. That's kind of that's kind of my question is I saw that you had uh like that plan in place for maintenance uh should the project uh go forward and I was just wondering so like was maintenance done throughout you know the porch's history and it just like I was just wondering how it kind of got to this point um and like what plans would be to make sure like the maintenance is

enough so it doesn't you know deteriorate uh any more quickly than it should.

Yeah. in the last and with COVID, you know, it was difficult to get work done.

Um, but in the last few years, we do have five residential settings. So, prioritizing work in different settings.

That porch, we haven't been using it.

Um, so, but now we want to be able to use the porch again for outdoor space for the youth. Um, as well as the preservation in the neighborhood. Um, yes, we do have our maintenance team and we'll continue to be able to maintain moving forward once it's completely done because peace meal really hasn't been able to really keep it restored the way it should be.

Thank you.

When was the last was that porch ever repaired or was it uh is it the original?

It's the original porch.

So again, doing piece here, piece there, trying to maintain and make it all and they do a wonderful job really having everything blend in. But we really just need to do a good like I have a porch. It's 180 years old and was fine last year. This year it just seems like it Yeah.

took a I guess wood just decides it's time and it right. We took pictures about eight months ago and when we first started this process and I said let me update in some of these pictures and I couldn't believe the comparison in such a short time.

Yeah. is the is the primary reason for not using it for safety reasons specifically? Yes.

Yeah. Okay. Just to confirm it. Okay.

And similar to other um questions I've asked, are you okay with the deed restriction on the property should the grant be awarded?

Yes.

Okay.

All right.

Short one. Sure.

Could you briefly briefly for the television audience just say what Deaconist Hall does?

Yes. Um we provide multiple services.

This building in particular provides residential services for adolescent youth um from the Fall River community, other South uh East region youth uh providing education, mental health services, health services, everyday life skills, social skills, vocational skills with the goal and which is our mission to really empower youth and families so that they can be self-sufficient and acclimate back into the community with

ideally not needing continued services in the future. Um, so really to support the youth that haven't had the opportunities that a lot of other youth have had. Um, so we're really I've been there 31 years. I've seen a lot of success stories really truly believe in our mission and the work we do because we've seen a lot of kids who have been able to now give back and turn around and really recidivism reduce and

eliminate recidivism. So the next generation isn't involved in state custody. Sorry.

Don't go through Don't go through 31 years.

I get really passionate about it. Sorry.

I've known Deaconist Home for I'm also a social worker.

I've known Deaconist Home for even more than 31 years.

Yes.

Just a quick question. My understanding is that it was established in like 1893 and it was for pretty much the same type of causes and continued that way. So the historical component of it and it is a it is a um an attribute to um the community. So, but with that, thank you very much.

Thank you. I I just have a couple of qu quick question a quick question here.

So, you you have a few estimates in here.

Yes.

So, which ones are you adding together to get to the $100,000 ask because they don't add up to 100,000?

Well, Kenny Pachico, it's a range. I think I think it said like between 90 to 100 and Q painting and the roof doctor we've we've worked with both of those contractors. So we are leaning to the with the both towards the both of those contractors one or the other. Um and both were very honest depending on when we get the grant when they'll be able to do the work. uh Q painting and the roof

doctor I believe came out to about 97 and they also said we're giving you a quote in August if we're not looking for the work to be done until possibly May, June or next summer, meaning summer of 2026.

They they we're honest most likely it's going to be higher because of the cost of materials, labor, insuranceances, all of those other increases that everyone has annually.

The other quote we did get, I'm not as comfortable with. I felt it was a very low quote. We haven't worked with them.

And we want to ensure that whoever does the work, it's sustainable and it's we're getting we're spending all this money, the city and states money. We want to make sure that it's a reputable company.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thanks.

Thank you. Thank you. And uh also if anybody uh online watching uh these packets are all on our website, you can uh go to uh CPA on the city count and click on it and read any application. Uh it's all included on there. So if you need any further things you want to look on your own at home, uh feel free to go to our site and uh all the information is there for you.

Yep.

Uh, next is uh St. John's the Baptist.

Uh, they're looking to uh redo the inside. Uh, they just just emailed us a nice presentation. We're not going to have them show it tonight because it is so long with they always put a great presentation together. As you can see, he already gave us another handout here.

So, these guys always come well prepared and uh explain everything. But uh I told him we all saw the uh online uh the uh presentation. So it was good. So um I don't have any questions on this. We've done work with these folks in the past.

They always do a good job. Uh I always come in get the project shovel ready.

Does anyone have any questions?

I I just have one question and um I just want to make sure I understood this. I thought previously we shied away from interior projects, but I don't know if that's true or not.

If it's open to the public and they have signed posted hours, we can venture into it.

Okay, it's all just I think I think you said they don't need to come, but we're going to consider their application. Is that correct?

No they they we can accept the application because they're open to the public. They have ours stated. So you it's open to the public for the public to see. So we can we we accepted the application.

Right. That's what you That's my question video.

But my question was they're not here tonight. We can still consider Oh no, you can still Yeah. No, we can still consider them. Okay. They just had a presentation that they do from St.

John's?

Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Sorry.

You are here.

Yes. I'm sorry.

Yeah, my name's Ehor Slubiki. I'm I'm the trustee at St. John the Baptist Church here in Fall River.

Fine. Welcome.

Thank you.

All right. Do you have any questions for me?

That was No, just just to clear up. I mean, we had we had prep prepared I had prepared a presentation, but uh that's fine. Um you guys Does the church have active services?

Yes, every Sunday and holidays. So, uh today's the 9th. We've had four services all this year on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Uh Sunday, uh Epiphany and St. Bas.

So, so yeah, we we're very active in terms of of actually uh doing doing what we're supposed to be doing. And so I could I could go if I wanted to.

Yes. Sunday uh Sundays at uh 8:15. It's a little early early.

Slightly busy on Sunday morning, but then after that we have a we have a really nice coffee hour.

The question I had had to do with access.

Mhm.

Thank you.

Yep.

All right.

Can I ask you one question, one additional question?

On a couple of other projects that we've had for religious institutions, um they actually had some elements to that were open to the community. for instance, there a warming shelter or food shelter or something like that. Do you have any of those types of programs in your facility or your organization?

Nothing like that. We we've had uh in the past we've had programs um mostly to talk about the the the Byzantine church, its traditions, and also about our building in particular because it's kind of a a unique architectural feature for um both Fall River but also for for for southern New England. Um, so as we've had uh one uh one big event like that a couple years ago and we're we're

planning to do some uh either this year well this year this year or next year to talk about uh sort of more again traditions of of Ukrainian traditions in terms of just the folk art folk arts and things like that.

Okay. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thanks.

That's it. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh next is the Cathedral of St. Mary's uh Assumption Bell Tower. Uh you're looking for 125.

Good evening.

My name is Joe Harrington. I'm the vice chancellor for the Dasis of Fall River.

So actually So, you're looking for 125, but your total cost is 645.

645. Yes. Um, it was 760.

So, um 645 was our initial estimate and then the 760 um when we completed the final application, we were advised to add a 15% contingency. So basically that's what we did but um you know we're we're we're fairly confident that we'll be able to do it within the 645.

Uh questions on anyone?

Th this this project by the way is just one phase within several phases of what we're doing at the cathedral right now.

The windows, the electrical, the lighting. So which phase is it stacking in? So, we've we've completed some interior work already. We've done um lighting on the interior, electrical work on the interior. Uh we've done some work to the clear story windows already. And then this is the next phase here. So, our plan is to do this work this spring.

This would be phase two then.

Um you could call it phase two. Yeah.

How how much has already been?

We've spent about half a million dollars so far on it and and probably if we do everything that we hope to do with just the cathedral building, we're talking about five and a half to $6 million across how long?

It depends on how quickly we can get the funding and and um I'd say I'd say uh four or five years.

Okay.

Maybe sooner ideally. Yeah.

Yeah.

With with the bell tower, you're looking at completing that this year.

That's correct. Yeah.

Okay. All righty.

Yeah. I I would having done other projects like this, this is a well um packaged um proposal. I will say that it clearly defines what you're doing, what you're going to accomplish within that fees, and I like the fact that you put in a contingency to it. Um, one question would be is are there has the actual roof itself, the actual steeple component of that, has that been any work been done on that

or is there uh any concerns with um the condition that's in right now?

So, so part of our plan is to do work on the roof in different different parts of the roof, but we don't have any specific concerns with the with the steeple roof.

Okay.

Thank you.

Yeah. Just one. Has any work been done yet on the bell tower or is that just not?

No, this this is this is this is the next phase. Yes.

Okay.

Alex, and just similar to other applicants, I'm assuming you'd be okay with the deed restriction being placed on the property.

Correct. I mean, we're our intention is to use it as a church and keep the structure up for the next hundred years.

Okay. because any subsequent work will also have to meet Secretary of Interior standards which I'm sure you're probably aware of.

Sure. Yeah.

Um and then I noticed that unfortunately uh more than half of the costs in your estimate is scaffolding. Is that correct?

Has a lift or alternative solutions been explored?

Yes. Yeah. And I know they used a lift on some of the interior work, but my understanding is you we have to do this with the scaffolding. would love to to not uh have to do spend that much on it.

And I think you did have at least two quotes in here and they were both just as high.

That's right. That's where that's where the cost is.

Okay. It's unfortunate.

Just a followup. There was no diff there was no real difference between the lift and the scaffolding.

No, I I I think he was asking if we I we explored we used a lift in inside for some of the interior work a bit on the lift. We we we my understanding is that we can't use the lift a lift for this.

We have to use a scaffolding.

The scaffolding.

Keep going. I interrupted Joe.

Ju just to say the the difference between the scaffolding and the lift component of it. It usually has to do with the amount and the weight of the blocks that are associated with it and working from the bottom up to it. And so we've run into that not only on projects here but other places as well. So later. Yeah. Yeah.

And the work does seem to go quicker with scaffolding versus a lift.

Yeah. Just it's just a crazy amount of money for scaffolding.

We're going to we're going to create a scaffolding business, I think. Really?

Does anyone else have any questions?

All right.

Great. Thank you very much.

Uh yep.

Next is First Congressional Church, uh, Congregational. Um, they're looking through the north wall, bell tower on the west, uh, looking for 308.

And, uh, you folks have been doing a lot of work already. I've seen I live right down the road from you. So, uh, did they say who they are?

So, I'm Reverend Indie Stinson. I'm the senior pastor of First Congregation Church. Hi, I'm Ken Ward. I'm the treasurer of the church and I'm Abby McWain. I'm supporting the grant application.

Okay. Uh I don't really have any qu questions.

Like I say, I I have noticed you guys have done a lot of work there. Uh if you wanted to don't really have to touch on that. It is in here. Uh so if anyone has any questions, Alex.

Hi. Um my one main question is I noticed uh I think since the eligibility round to now you reduced the scope from all four uh walls of the tower to just the north and the west uh the north and the west. Um what's the plan now for the south and east if there is one of so this is this what what we're bringing to you is a phase of a multi-phase

project. So the the the other the other sides are going to get addressed as as we progress. Um this is it simply starting in the worst places and working to the working to the to uh to places that need less attention. So we're we're uh so so what we're proposing here is really our our first push onto um the kind of the re the repinning of a lot of the building and and that kind of work.

So, could you just uh do a quick overview of what the total cost of the project is, what you've done so far, and then what you're looking for?

I'll give you to the treasurer for that.

Sure.

Thank you.

So far, at this point, we spent close to threequarters of a million dollars.

Um, the project when we first got it, you're going back years, was quoted at about $4 million to do all four sides, but we anticipate obviously we cannot deal with that. It's so expensive. So as time goes on, the new price may increase to about 5 million. So that's where we're at. And right now, we're only doing what we can do it one step at a time. And some of

the other parts of the church again is with a concern where we had water egress and we've addressed those as well.

And then another uh two more questions.

The other one would be um the have you applied for applications for this or has this um been funded strictly by how much has been funded by you compared to um CPA or CPC funding? Uh well I will um my only comment is that we have applied to other um foundations um for u this work and related work that's happening on the church um and we have so far not um received any

additional funding grant funding um so it's all been self-funded.

Okay.

And and that you have not received CPA funding to my knowledge.

We have not received CPA funding. And just the third question, it was kind of the general one that I had for the previous um uh religious institution. Do you guys do anything outside of um community heating shelter uh food?

Yeah. No, I I would like the I would like the community to hear.

Yeah, we um so we do uh we do an uh a few different meals a month that that go to uh what um the marginalized folks in the community. um our our gym and hall.

Um we have about 22 different organizations that use that on a regular basis um depending on on a weekly basis.

Um between uh basketball teams, Girl Scouts, um uh yoga classes, um the any number of things. Um we have um we have we support a number of the schools within this within the within the um both RPA um and that that is our neighbors but also a few other c other schools have come over and both used our gym used our fellowship hall diamond cheering was there for a little while

when they had when they were displaced.

So we we uh we could we are actually incredibly proud of the fact that our platform is at work every day in this community to do uh to to care for the community and enrich the community.

Thank you.

And um I just like to um add that the church does not charge anybody for the use of the space. It's almost unheard of to to take any money for it. So it's it's all for the benefit of the community.

Thank you.

Uh Alex.

Um, and just kind of finishing my question, could you, um, so what are what are the reasons that the north and west side are worse off? Is it water intrusion? Is it like mortar or stone deteriorate?

I think mostly it's UVs. It's just the exposure and those are the ones that that um um there's there's it was water intrusion that has created. You know, motor's good for 100 years. We're at about 110. And so um the the gap between the inside wall and the outside wall begin to begin to displace and that's kind of where it began. So it there's um uh you know why particular things happen

I think is that you know there's a witchcraft beyond my my pay grade. So but um but yeah that's that's I think a lot of it has to do with the the um the weather exposure of those sides. So and is it a I'm guessing it's a safety concern. Um it's getting worse. Well, it's it is um to some degree, but the but um some work was done by our predecessors um 20 years ago or so.

Yeah. To where and so some some beams were put in um some things were replaced so that that the stabilization of you know that that ensuring that you know something isn't going to fall and something isn't going to um has had that some of that work has already been done.

um this really is about the the the long-term stability of of the of the structure that it will continue to continue on for for decades um into the future. So So it's a bit more proactive than reactionary.

Well, yeah, there I mean we're you know that that the particularly the pointing and there are certain there are certain again why we're starting in the at at that point. Um you know there are certain parts of the buttresses that have started to move. There's some of that's in the pictures you can you can see and and that um that without correction that that can go that can turn badly quick. So we're we're really

at the point where that um we that needs to be addressed.

And then last time I'll ask you guys are okay with the deed restriction being placed on the property.

Yep.

We're we are we're highly committed to the to the to uh preserving the the the historical structure of of that building. Um it is uh it is a great treasure for us uh to worship in every week and to share with the community and to be a part of uh to be a part of this community. Um as I as it says in the g you know we're we're the oldest oldest worshiping community continuously

worshiping community in the city and um and uh that the building and um is a big part of that of what has been um of our legacy here and so we're we're invested in keeping it.

And you have the Tiffany windows.

Yeah, we have we have Tiffany Yeah, Tiffany windows. Um the love to show you around. Come on down.

One question. Am I correct that you guys have the pipe organs in there as well?

We do.

And I know you've done concerts in the community at no cost. And you actually allow a lot of the schools to come and use the acoustics.

Absolutely. Yeah, we have our Antioch school, for instance. They do all their concerts with us. Um, a few other schools that use the use our space in order to do their concerts and and things like that. For sure.

Good.

One more.

Do you have a wonderful organ concert once a month with and with different organists coming in? Could you tell me when that concert is?

It is almost always the third uh the third Friday of the month on at noon. Uh so bring a brown bag or there's there's a lunch provided. We provide it we provide some snacks afterwards. Um, and we do we we it's actually become known.

We've been doing it for about three years now. And there it's actually attracting organists from um all over uh I think we had an organist come from uh that was that was from Poland that actually came in. So, you know, there there's it's it's a so things build. So, thanks.

Thank you. All right. Uh, I don't think we have any project updates that we got to go over, do we?

No.

Nope. Okay. Uh, no new business.

Uh, can I have a motion to adjourn?

A motion to adjourn.

I'll second.

Okay. Roll call to my right.

DJ McDonald.

Yes.

Yes.

James. Oops. You didn't vote. Did you say anything?

Chris Benites. Yes.

I can't really hear you. That's one of the problems.

Okay. So James, right?

I mean I vote yes. Sorry I'm getting tired.

Yes.

Alexander Silva. Yes. Michael Feras.

Yes.

Joey Bentley. Yes.

All righty. And we'll be back next Wednesday for another show.