TO:                  Mayor William F. Martin, Jr.

                                    And

                        Members of the Lowell City Council

FROM:             Bernard F. Lynch, City Manager

DATE:             June 5, 2007

RE:                   Council Motion of 5/22/07 by Councillor Caulfield

“Request the City Manager investigate any historical funding from the Federal or State Governments available to support renovations of St. Patrick’s Church which is listed on the historical register.”

______________________________________________________________________________

I have been in contact with Stephen Stowell, Lowell Historic Board Administrator, with regard to the motion mentioned above.  He stated that St. Patrick’s is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places and that the current Gothic Revival structure was built between 1853 and 1874, replacing a smaller wood-frame church built in 1831.  A major fire in 1904 necessitated the reconstruction of much of the gutted interior.  St. Patrick’s was designed by prominent architect Patrick Keeley whose other Lowell works include the Immaculate Conception Church, St. Michael’s Church, and the demolished St. Peter’s Church.

With regard to potential sources of federal or state funding that could provide restoration assistance, unfortunately there are no sources presently available.  Federal assistance such as the 20% Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit is geared toward income-producing historic structures listed on the National Register .  Examples of local projects that have made use of this program in the past range from commercial buildings such as the Bon Marche and Cherry & Webb to mill rehabilitation projects such as Boott Mills and Massachusetts Mills.  St. Patrick’s would not qualify for this program as it is an active church and not being redeveloped for an alternative use such as commercial space or rental housing.  The same would apply to the state’s Historic Rehabilitation Tax program.  In addition, federal Preserve America grant funding does not fund repair, maintenance, or restoration work.

In terms of state assistance, the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund (MPPF) overseen by Secretary of  State William Galvin and the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) could be a potential source of future funding.  This grant source provides assistance on a matching basis to historic structures that are listed on the Register and owned by a non-profit or municipality.  Lowell projects have been very successful in prior MPPF grant rounds with such projects as the Pawtucket Congregational Church, Lowell Day Nursery, Ladd & Whitney/Winged Victory Monuments, and the Cambodian American League of Lowell’s Middlesex Street buildings receiving awards among others.  St. Patrick’s meets the basic criteria for eligibility given its designation and ownership status. 

However, MPPF is currently funded for only one grant round through FY08 and applications were due last February.  It is unknown when future grant rounds will be established.  Past requests for assistance could range from $7,500 to $100,000 and would require a 50% match.   Work completed prior to the grant award would be ineligible for funding consideration.  As a requirement of being awarded a MPPF grant, the owner of a property funded for rehabilitation work must enter into and record a preservation restriction and maintenance agreement in perpetuity which would be held by MHC.

If you have any questions regarding this information, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Thank you.