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.