CPA Funds Sought For Harbormaster Building Restoration

CHATHAM – The town is seeking $100,000 in Community Preservation Act funds for the first phase of historic renovations to the harbormaster’s building on Stage Harbor.
Known as Old Mill Boatyard after the commercial operation on the property when the town purchased it in 1987, the structure houses the harbormaster department offices and the town’s shellfish upweller. 
The project is one of nearly a dozen seeking funding at the May annual town meeting in the CPA’s three categories: historic restoration, affordable housing, and open space and recreation.
At least one section of the harbormaster building dates from around 1900; the structure is actually two buildings that were joined together at one point. Some of the exterior features, like the stairs, were not original to the building, and much of the current structure does not meet building codes, Natural Resources Director Greg Berman told members of the community preservation committee Dec. 15.
Rather than tear it down and replace it, town officials want to restore it and make it more functional, added Harbormaster Jason Holm.
“I believe it’s one of the oldest [buildings] on the harbor,” he said. “It really is one of the crown jewels when you come into Stage Harbor.”
The total cost of the project is estimated at $350,000. The first phase, for which $100,000 will be sought in May, involves developing historically appropriate plans for the restoration and repairing the deck and stairs. Another $250,000 will be requested in 2027 to carry out the exterior restoration.
The CPA funds will not cover planned interior work to the building. After the former Stage Harbor Coast Guard boathouse is moved to 90 Bridge St., the upweller will move there from the first floor of the harbormaster building. That space will then be renovated and offices and public spaces currently on the second floor will be moved to the first floor so that they will conform with accessibility requirements, Holm said. The second floor will have additional offices and meeting space.
The harbormaster building project falls under the historic restoration category of CPA funding, as does $455,400 the town is requesting to restore and preserve the lattice antenna towers at the Marconi property. The cemetery commission is also requesting $98,860 to restore the Mack Memorial adjacent to the Chatham Coast Guard Station, along with $100,399 to clean, restore and repair more than 700 gravestones in People’s Cemetery.
In other CPA requests, the chamber of commerce is seeking $25,000 in recreation and open space funding for restoration work at Kate Gould Park, and the Chatham Conservation Foundation is requesting $125,000 from the same categories to create an accessible trail and an overlook at Mill Pond. Matching grants and in-kind donations will cover the remaining $525,000 cost of the project, according to the CPA application.
The park and recreation department is asking for $17,000 in recreation funds for new signs at eight town beaches.
The remainder of the applications are for affordable housing funds. The town’s affordable housing trust is seeking $750,000 to support development of housing at 127 Old Harbor Rd. and Stepping Stones Road. Pennrose is asking for $500,000 to assist in development of affordable housing at 1533 Main St., the former Buckley property, and the same amount for the affordable housing development on Meetinghouse Road.
Finally, the Housing Assistance Corporation is requesting $100,000 to help fund renovation of the group’s former offices in Hyannis as an emergency shelter for the region. HAC is seeking funds from the state and other towns toward the $4.8 million cost of the project.
In order to go before voters in May, each request must gain the support of the community preservation committee. Over the coming weeks the committee will be reviewing the applications and voting on each.