Partial demolition of historic Sandwich school approved – Cape Cod Times

Beth Treffeisen|Cape Cod Times

PRINT DECKHED:Historical Commission wants new construction for senior housing to fit in with the character of the existing building

SANDWICH A portion of the Henry T. Wing School is set for demolition after receiving approval from the Sandwich Historical Commission, but plans to build senior housing on the property and rehabilitate the remaining portion of the school are on hold.

We are excited about it, Maria Nye, chair of the historical commission, said at the commission's meeting Wednesday. We are not going to vote...because we need some changes to come through.

The commission unanimously voted Wednesday to allow for partial demolition of the school while keeping the 1927 portion of the building intact.

The demolition will include three additions located behind that school that were added in 1958, 1963 and 1974, according to Maureen Cavanaugh, senior planner at Public Archaeology Laboratory, who spoke on behalf of the project applicant, Stratford Capital Group.

However, Stratford Capital Group will have to return for the second part of its application to rehabilitate the 1927 potion of the school and construct new senior affordable housing units at 33 Water St.

The Henry T. Wing Residences would include 128-units on the Water Street site mainly for low- and moderate-income residents aged 62 or older. The project would retain the facade of the 1927 school building and demolish the remaining structures to create the housing.

The historic school building is made up of red brick, while the new buildings are designed to be a cooler, blue color. Board members felt the new construction contrasted too much with the historic structure and asked the design team to return Jan. 27 with updated plans.

I find the juxtaposition between the old and the new to be jarring, board member Michael Sullivan said.

Nye agreed. Separately they are stunning but together they dont go well together.

The board recommends the design team go with more earth tone colors and possibly consider a brick veneer on the sides that align with the front of the school.

Instead of differentiating the old and new buildings, Nye suggested the design team make it more cohesive.

We would want it to have it look and feel historic, Nye said.

At town meeting in June, there was overwhelming support to transfer the school property to a developer to convert it into age-restricted housing.

Stratford Capital Group is working with the nonprofit organization CHOICE Choice Housing Opportunities for Intergenerational & Community Endeavors on the project.

Construction would take place in three phases. The first phase, from Oct. 2022 until Oct. 2023, will consist of constructing 43 units, with 10 inside the 1927 portion of the building. This phase will include construction of a senior service center, and the community will still have access to the schools existing auditorium.

The second phase, from July 2023 to July 2024, calls for building 41 units within a new three-story building. The third year-long phase will begin immediately afterward and consist of constructing another three-story building with 44 units.

Nye reiterated the commission's desire to see the new buildings, which are currently designed in a Cape Cod-style, designed to look and feel similar to the historic school.

We want to give them the flexibility to come up with acolor that complements, said Nye. You have really nice taste and we want to see what you come up with.

Contact Beth Treffeisen at btreffeisen@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @BTreffeisenCCT.

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Partial demolition of historic Sandwich school approved - Cape Cod Times