The building known locally as the White Church is in its own historic district, which means no changes to its exterior may be made unless they are in keeping with its historic nature.
WEST SPRINGFIELD – This city's Community Preservation Committee plans to discuss Tuesday a request by the mayor that it approve $480,000 in Community Preservation Act money to purchase the building on Elm Street known locally as the White Church.
The committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the mayor’s meeting room in the municipal office building.
Community Preservation Committee Chairman Paul H. Boudo said Friday that the committee currently has about $81,500 in its historic resources account, but could tap money from its undesignated account, which stands at about $1.2 million.
Community Preservation Act money is collected from a property tax surcharge that draws funding from the state. The money may be used only for historic preservation, affordable housing, open space or recreation. Money is earmarked for each purpose, but after an interval if it is unspent, it goes into a fund that may be used for any of the four categories.
Mayor Gregory C. Neffinger, who could not be reached for comment, would like to buy the church building at 732 Elm St. It is currently owned and occupied by Warren Amerman. He lives in an apartment in the building, where he also operates his recording studio, The Rotary Records. Amerman bought the building eight years ago from the local Masons.
The white, wooden clapboard building was constructed in 1802 in the style of New England Congregational churches of the time, according to Richard J. Kosinski, chairman of the Historical Commission. He said it is the sole building in the White Church Historical District, which means that no changes to its exterior that are not in keeping with its historical nature may be made. It was used as a Congregational church until 1913, when the local Masons began using the building for meetings, he said.
Amerman, who is 60, said the mayor approached him about buying the building and he may be interested in selling it to ensure it continues to be maintained after he is gone.
“The church has been here a very long time and will be here a very long time after I am gone,” Amerman said Friday.
He said that the building’s interior is noteworthy for the church organ built in 1855 by William Johnston.
If the purchase comes about, plans call for Amerman to continue operating his business there and living in it as a caretaker.
In his application, Neffinger stated he seeks to have the building’s exterior, which has peeling paint, to its “former Colonial glory.”
Boudo said he does not expect his committee to vote on the request Tuesday as it does not yet have enough information. If the committee approves the mayor’s request, it will then go to the Town Council, which has final say over how Community Preservation Act money is spent.