SummaryTime line

April 7, 2011- MD closed

April 12, 2011- Valley Advocate MD article

June 5, 2011- scaffolding permit expired- City of Holyoke, Atty Ross

Oct. 14-2011- Holyoke Sun article about MD vigil

July 15, 2011- Neal Mitchell Assoc. letter- MD is structurally sound

Oct.-Nov. 2011 - Mayor Pluta activates the Fairfield Study committee

Dec. 20, 2011- Surveys returned from Lyman St. property owners

April 26, 2012- First Public hearing: Americans Veterans St. Kolbe Dr.- posted

Property owners notified

July 18, 2012- MHC declares MD Church Complex eligible for National

Register

July 24, 2012-Fairfield Commission meeting with Chris Skelly

From Mass Historical Commission Re: Lyman St. Study

Committee

December 2012- Study completed -Inventory and pictures of all

properties on Lyman St. (63 total)

Dec. 25, 2012- MD prayer event ‘Republican’ Newspaper article

January 2013- Study Committee decided to define the Mater Dolorosa Church

and School complex and park as Polish Heritage Historic District

Feb. 15, 2013- legal notice ‘Republican’ for Feb. 26th meeting

Feb. 25, 2013 (Monday)- update with Redevelopment committee at City Hall

  • Feb. 26, 2013 –(Tuesday) Public hearing at Heritage Park 6:30
  • Property owners notified

Feb. 26th WGGB newscast-channel 40 ‘ public hearing held to consider

labeling Mater Dolorosa Church as a historic site’

March 1, 2013-the Reminder ‘residents support creation of Polish

Heritage District

March 5, 2013 ( Tuesday)– Fairfield Commission meeting-posted

March 7,2013- MassLive.com ‘Mater Dolorosa has historic significance’

March 21, 2013 – Valley Advocate “Heritage and the Diocese” MD

article

March 21, 2013- letter from Bishop to Kevin Jourdain and City Council refers

to historic district designation

April 2, 2013 – Fairfield Commission meeting re: Polish HLHD-posted

April 5-11 2013- the Holyoke Sun- letter to the editor

April 5-11 2013- Holyoke Sun- MD article

May 7, 2013 –Fairfield Commission meeting -posted

June 4, 2013- Fairfield Commission meeting -posted

June 30, 2013- WWLP news (2yr. anniversary of closing)

July 2, 2013 - summary report sent to MHC

July 15, 2013- MHC letter report considered COMPLETE

September 10, 2013 - FairfieldCommission meeting- posted

Sept. 16, 2013- legal notice- ‘Republican’ for Oct. 3rd meeting

Sept. 16, 2013- letter from MHC in support of Polish HLHD

Sept. 26, 2013 Polish Heritage - Public hearing in Redevelopment Committee-

Posted –

Oct. 3, 2013- Polish Heritage on Redevelopment Committee agenda / posted

Oct. 8, 2013-Fairfield Commission meeting posted

Nov. 13, 2013- Fairfield Commission meeting/ posted

* Nov. 21, 2013-Redevelopment Committee Public Hearing-Polish Heritage on

agenda- posted

Dec. 3, 2013- Ordinance Committee-Polish Heritage on agenda-posted

Dec. 11, 2013- Fairfield Commission meeting- posted

Dec. 19, 2013- Correspondence from Diocese objecting to MD Church in District-

First letter rec’d from Diocese

Jan 8, 2014- Combined Historical and Fairfield Commission meeting- posted

Feb. 5, 2014- meeting in legal dept with M.Dupont, S. Spelman, Msg.

Bonzoani, J. Dietrick, D. Bartley, A. Vega, K. Cunha, M. Marrero, B.

Strycharz, O. Mausel (arranged by Planning Dept.)

Fairfield Avenue Local Historic District commission:

Polish Heritage is on the agenda at every monthly meeting since Nov.

2011- posted according to open meeting rules & regulations on city

web site-

Polish Heritage Local Historic District Facebook page- open group

*Atty Spellman attended these hearings for the Diocese

Designation as a Historic District- What does that mean?

  • Prevent inappropriate changes to contributing structures
  • Only applies to exterior elements
  • Paint, storm windows, and storm doors are exempt
  • Additions confined to rear of structure
  • Replacement as needed shall be in the size, shape and location of original material

Polish Heritage Historic District

  • Nominating this area for its cultural and architectural significance will:
  • Protect the historic integrity of the church and the neighborhood
  • Encourage historically sensitive renovation and development in the district
  • Maintain the Polish cultural history of the old Ward 4
  • Promote community coordination and cohesion as the neighborhood evolves
  • 7 member District Commission is made up of residents of the area and city residents at large, appointed by Mayor and approved by City Council
  • Guidelines are established and approved by Ordinance Committee of City Council overseen by Building Commissioner and Local Historic District Commission

Fairfield Avenue Local Historic District Commission