I was talking with a
So anyways, the Plymouth
resident. The conversation veered back and forth; we talked about the types of
shops that make up downtown Plymouth ’s
main street (mostly bars and antique shops), we talked about local politics
(surprisingly factional) and we talked about the town’s upcoming quadri-centennial.
The Courthouse was mentioned, as was its potential role in the celebrations. It
was then that my companion made a statement that made my blood run cold.
“It’s an eyesore,” he told me, pointing in the direction of
the structure. “I think we should knock it down and turn it into a parking
lot.”
Whoa. Were we talking about the same building? Was there
another courthouse that I didn’t know about? Maybe the structure that he was
referring to was a decrepit old slum, or a crack den. Certainly we couldn’t be
talking about the elegant, centuries old building that marked the northern
entrance into Plymouth ’s
historic district.
But we were. Incredulous, I listened as he laid out his
arguments for the parking lot idea; the increasingly political atmosphere of
the redevelopment project, the mounting costs, the lengthening delays. It was
reasoning by a not-unreasonable individual, who’d decided that the cost and
sacrifice to preserve this particular cultural icon simply wasn’t worth the
trouble.
And rather than try to convince him, I walked away. Just
like that. Part of it was my unwillingness to catch such a political hot
potato, part of it was simply surprise at the direction the conversation had
veered. I didn’t know the arguments, didn’t know the parties involved, didn’t
have the statistics, couldn’t form the responses. Couldn’t make my case.
So I went home, and I got on my computer. And now I’m going
to try again.
- THE EYESORE. I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I can’t help but wonder whether anyone actually thinks that this,
is more of an eyesore than this.
Some people don’t like certain
types of buildings, or certain types of architecture. I understand this. But whether
early 19th century construction is your cup of tea or not, I’m
fairly certain that more visitors to Plymouth will stop to appreciate the
Courthouse as it currently stands than if it was razed and paved. People don’t
often spend their vacations taking pictures of parking lots, after all.
- THE POLITICS. The 1820 Courthouse was purchased in 2009 by the Plymouth Town Meeting, which is currently leasing the property to the Plymouth Redevelopment Authority (PRA) for adaptive reuse. The political arena is further complicated by another set of acronyms, the 1820 Courthouse Consortium (1820 CC), which represents a diverse set of interests and is charged with incorporating the building into a reinvigorated waterfront district.
With the number of voices clamoring
to have a say on the issue, it’s no wonder the project is raising so many
hackles, or taking so long. However, all of these voices have come to a
consensus on one thing… the Courthouse ought to stick around. Town Meeting
bought it, the PRA is (re) developing it, and the 1820 CC is working on ways to
integrate it. The question is no longer “should we?” but rather “how should we?”
- THE COST. “The town bought it, and now the people have to pay for it.” Well, yes. Just like a businessman maintains his place of business, or a homeowner his home. It costs a lot of money to stabilize and preserve a historic structure. There are historical and architectural surveys to be undertaken, planners and construction firms to pay. As noted in a report issued by the Urban Land Institute, "given the condition of the existing buildings, the cost to develop the property will be high, for either preservation/adaptive reuse or demolition options.” (Urban Land Institute, p. 14)
But two things make this project
different. First, the Town of Plymouth has
long branded itself as a destination for tourism. Between the months of May and
September, thousands of out-of-state visitors will visit Plymouth attractions,
shop in Plymouth stores, eat in Plymouth restaurants.
They come here to see what makes Plymouth different
from other towns, including old buildings like the 1820 Courthouse. While
certainly necessary for tourism, a parking lot is a convenience to your visit,
not the reason for it.
Second, this statement assumes
that Plymouth residents
will have to shoulder the bill all by themselves. The historic nature of the
structure means that there are Federal and state resources available to help
pick up the slack. Some of the possibilities proposed in the Urban Land
Institute's report include Historic Tax Credits, the Community Preservation
Act, Community Development Block grants, and more. Coupled with the
downtown revitalization project that the Courthouse is supposed to
highlight, the town has the potential to receive a very large return
on a very subsidized investment.
The issues surrounding this building are… complicated, much
more so than this short post may make it seem. And just to be clear, as far as
I know it's not currently in any danger. This was a private citizen I was
speaking to, a citizen with legitimate concerns and no more or less control
over town policy than myself.
But armed with the facts, maybe next time I see him we can
have the discussion that we should have had earlier today.
* *
* * *
Are you a Plymouth
__________
"1820
Courthouse: Plymouth
landmark boasts venerable history." Wicked Local Plymouth
Urban Land
Institute. "1820 Courthouse Corridor Redevelopment." Plymouth , MA
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