Donor makes bid to save St. John Cantius, St. Mary’s churches in Northampton
Updated 9:19 PM;
Today 9:10 PM
An aerial view of the former St. John Cantius Church on Hawley Street in Northampton on March 20, 2021. A developer is seeking to tear down the structure as part of a construction project. (Patrick Johnson | The Republican photo)
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NORTHAMPTON An anonymous donor has put up $50,000 to save St. John Cantius Church and the similarly endangered St. Mary’s Church on the other side of downtown.
Northampton City Councilor Jim Nash announced the proposed donation Tuesday during a meeting of the Northampton Central Business Architecture Committee, which was discussing O’Connell Development Group’s proposal to demolish St. John Cantius and build condominiums in its place.
Committee denies permit for St. John Cantius demolition
St. John Cantius Church. The O Connell Development Group has applied for a permit to demolish the building on Hawley Street and Phillips Place. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
Published: 4/6/2021 9:51:16 PM
NORTHAMPTON After a lengthy hearing Tuesday evening, the city’s Central Business Architecture Committee voted to deny a local developer’s permit application to demolish St. John Cantius Church.
The hearing was held to assess the application that the O’Connell Development Group of Holyoke has submitted to demolish the church built in 1904 on Hawley Street and Phillips Place and build townhouses on the property. After a lengthy presentation from the developer, as well as extensive public comment, the body voted 3-1 to deny the demolition until O’Connell comes back with more detailed drawings of the structures it intends to build on the site.