Mass. Voters Approve Plan to Rehab 1803 Ames Shovel Shops
By Margaret Foster | Online Only | Apr. 13, 2010
The Ames Shovel Shops, Easton, Mass.
Credit: Chris Milford, Friends of Historic Ames Shovel Works at North Easton
Last week residents of Easton, Mass., headed to the polls to vote on a proposal to renovate the town's historic factory. By a more than two to one margin, the voters approved Boston-based Beacon Communities LLC's plans to turn the Ames Shovel Shops into apartments and a park.
"There were 800 people or so; the line was out the door," says Greg Galer, a member of the Easton Historical Commission and longtime resident who voted on Apr. 5. "It's very satisfying."
The 560-209 vote trumps the property owners' plan to construct apartments on the 18-acre site without preserving its 15 buildings. Last year, Easton's zoning board of appeals granted Ames' current owners, Robert and George Turner, a permit for that project, prompting the National Trust for Historic Preservation to add the Ames Shovel Shops to its list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.
For now, it seems, the complex of granite and wood buildings dating from 1852 through 1928 is safe. The Turners will sell the property to Beacon Communities within the next 18 months.
"We are very excited about the vote," says Erin Kelly, assistant director of Preservation Massachusetts, a Boston-based nonprofit that recognized the Ames Shovel Shops as one of the state's most endangered historic places in 2008. "We know Beacon Communities, and they have a wonderful track record of historic rehabs across Massachusetts. We consider this a win, even though we know it's far from over."
An 11 Most "Win-Win"
"The citizens of Easton, Mass., took bold action earlier this month to preserve a cherished landmark in their town, the Ames Shovel Shops," says Wendy Nicholas, regional director of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Northeast Office in Boston. "In these wood and granite buildings, generations of people manufactured the shovels that made America, that were used in the California Gold Rush, in the Civil War, and in building the Transcontinental Railroad. The Town worked very closely with Beacon Communities to craft a plan that is a win-win for all."
With the aid of taxpayer money, Beacon will build a park on the Ames Shovel Shops site as well as 119 apartments. (Several buildings on the site are not historic and will be demolished, but the rest will be rehabilitated as housing units.) Thanks to voter approval, the town will award Beacon a $3 million grant and a $4.5 million construction loan, using funds from its Community Preservation Act account, a state program. Read more about the act >>
"[The Community Preservation Act] has really allowed us to take control of our downtown," says Colleen Corona, Chair of Easton's board of selectmen. "It's an incredible resource for the community at a time when so many communities are suffering fiscally."
Beacon, for one, is pleased that voters overwhelmingly support its plan.
"We're thrilled with the response of the town," says Howard Cohen, CEO of Beacon Communities LLC. "This is an amazing opportunity because these buildings are quite extraordinary and quite historic, but we've done many historic preservation transactions, so we have a sense of the complexity of modernizing an 1850s factory."
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Comments
Submitted by Amy C. at: March 8, 2011
I just read about reuse plans for these fabulous historic buildings at http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/03/03/affordable_housing_projects_funded_in_easton_hanover_hingham_quincy_and_wareham/.
Submitted by eastonnative at: October 14, 2010
While I moved away from North Easton many years ago, I played on the rockery as a kid, rode my bike out to Borderland State Park (a one time Ames home), went to middle school in the big yellow building behind the rockery that was donated to the town by the Ames family, shopped at the stores that were at what we called the shovel shop buildings, spent hours in the Ames Free Library, went to functions at the Oakes Ames Memorial Hall, and remember when the North Easton post office was in the Richardson building across the street from the library. I spent many hours in Hazel Varella's classroom learning about the wonderful heritage the Ames had left the town of Easton and knew by name those members of the Ames family that still lived in town. I am thrilled to hear that the shovel shop buildings will continue to be a part of the Easton landscape. For those of you that have never seen these buildings and all the other wonderful architecture and gifts that grace North Easton, I suggest you take a ride, or better yet a stroll, through town.
Submitted by made in the usa at: April 21, 2010
Its great to see the old factory being preserved and in an adaptive re-use. Its unfortunate that youi can't buy an Ames shovel made in a US factory anymore! Take a close look, the next time you go to buy a garden tool. bring back the factories and the jobs!
Submitted by Lovescpa at: April 15, 2010
As a history buff who lives in a neighboring community, and is a big supporter of Massachusetts' innovative Community Preservation Act (CPA), I was thrilled to see that the Easton voters came out in support of this CPA-funded historic preservation/affordable housing/open space project! For those who are not familiar with the CPA, it is a local-option state law that allows communities to establish a local dedicated fund for three purposes: historic preservation, open space protection (including land for active outdoor recreational pursuits), and affordable housing. The CPA law requires each adopting community to vote to opt into the program by ballot election, and communities can opt out after 5 years if they want to. So far, no community has ever chosen to opt out!! Funding for the program comes from a small surcharge (up to 3%) on local property tax bills and from guaranteed annual state matching funds derived from fees on transactions at the state's registries of deeds. 143 communities in Massachusetts (40% of the state) have adopted CPA, and over $820 million has been raised through the program and ploughed back into the Massachusetts economy for CPA projects since 2000 when CPA was first created. In a down economy, these funds are providing jobs for Massachusetts residents, while at the same time strengthening our communities and supporting our heritage tourism industry. What's not to love? Thanks Easton MA residents for your far-sighted vote and for your support for CPA!