Westcott Neighborhood Information

In January of 2010, Board and Staff of the Westcott House Foundation (WHF) committed to assess the adjacent properties and residential structures (39, 33, 31/29, 25, 17/15, 25 South Greenmount Avenue and 1315 East Main Street) owned by the Foundation. In assessing its options, WHF hoped to establish consensus within the Springfield community as to the future of these properties and resolve the longstanding issue of what could and should be done. The seven houses on the adjoining lots had become increasingly derelict and unsafe over the past five years, and WHF hoped that a reasonable solution would be broadly welcomed.

To take on this issue, WHF engaged Sutton + Associates to facilitate a feasibility analysis process and established a Task Force of the Board whose charge was to address the following questions related to the potential reuse of the residential structures:

• Is there market demand or mission-specific need for any of the structures?
• Was it likely that capital resources would be available for their restoration in the near term?
• Is there strong likelihood of a sustainable operating plan were they to be saved?

Between February 9th and April 13th, 2010, WHF engaged the community in the process through an online survey, individual interviews, site visits and working sessions with builders, developers, real estate agents and City staff. Further, a Community Focus Group was held with more than thirty attendees representing a broad spectrum of stakeholders.

WHF’s analysis also included assessment of all the existing studies and documents related to the adjacent properties, including the Structural Survey and Analysis by Elwin C. Robison; National Register Eligibility Assessment (Section 106 Review) and Preservation Analysis by Lauren Sickels Allsopp.

Upon review of all gathered data the WHF Board determined unanimously that there was no viable option for the reuse of any of these structures. The cost of stabilizing and repurposing the structures was prohibitive and even after a very substantial investment none of these structures would adequately meet WHF space needs or any other community need. Further, input received from throughout the Springfield community was overwhelming that the structures should be removed.

WHF is committed to stabilizing the adjacent property as soon as possible by removing the houses and focusing its resources and energies on sustaining the operation of the Westcott House Museum and building its programs.

The Feasibility Study was possible through the generous support of the National Trust Preservation Trust, Springfield Preservation Alliance and the Della Selsor Trust. We want to thank these organizations for making this important study possible.