South Meeting House's proposed tenant: Portsmouth Music and Arts Center. VFW backs off.

PORTSMOUTH — Veterans of Foreign War Post 168 officials decided not to submit a proposal for the reuse of the city-owned South Meeting House .

It was a "difficult decision," according to Jonathan Day, commander of the post.

“When we first expressed interest in the property, it seemed like a win-win solution to utilize our funds to restore the building on behalf of the city and provide us with a long-term meeting place, with the potential for future affordable housing for veterans,” Day wrote in a letter to the city.

However, Day wrote, “It was made abundantly clear that a neighborhood group did not want us in the building or utilizing parking spaces to which they have become accustomed to using.”

He added, "We have no desire for a protracted legal struggle over the property.”

Portsmouth Music and Arts Center proposed as 'sole tenant' of South Meeting House

The VFW’s decision to remove itself from the process left just one group responding to the city’s request for proposals for the reuse of the South Meeting House property, according to city documents.

David Schleyer, trustee of the Schleyer Foundation, submitted a response to the RFP.

The Schleyer Foundation proposes to work with Chinburg Builders and Arcove Architects to “preserve this building and its history while restoring the structure to like-new condition and up to the standards for modern use.”

“The property will once again be a vibrant space for arts and culture that honors the historic nature of the neighborhood,” Schleyer wrote in documents filed with the city.

The South Meeting House, which is located on Marcy Street and formerly housed the Children’s Museum, was built in 1863, according to city records.

The historic South End property, with its iconic clock tower, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Schleyer states the foundation is “fully aware of the scope and cost of renovating the South Meeting House and we are committed to providing the funding to do so.”

“In addition, the Foundation understands the long-term maintenance needs of the structure, in order to keep the South Meeting House in like-new condition and is committed to funding such activity,” he wrote.

Schleyer added, “We are even more energized about the prospect of teaming with Portsmouth Music and Arts Center Inc. (PMAC), as the long-term occupant of South Meeting House.”

“The renovation of South Meeting House and partnership with PMAC will allow the organization to develop new learning opportunities for the children of Portsmouth and surrounding communities,” he said. “All of the trustees of our Foundation have vivid memories of attending programs at the South Meeting House when it operated as the Children’s Museum.

“In a vital effort to expand the arts and cultural initiatives of Portsmouth, we believe that the best and highest use of the structure is to develop it into a place where children can learn and grow,” Schleyer said.

Foundation points to Carey Cottage renovation as success

Schleyer explained as part of the foundation’s submission to the city that they worked previously with Chinburg Builders and Arcove Architects, whose principal is Tracy Kozak, on the complete renovation of Portsmouth’s historic Carey Cottage.

The foundation funded the renovation of the structure “into the home of Goodwork, a not-for-profit incubator,” Schleyer said.

Eric Chinburg, the owner and president of Chinburg Builders, described himself as “excited and honored to partner with the Schleyer Foundation."

After touring the South Meeting House property, Chinburg believes the team can “work together to meet the needs of the city and the vision of the Foundation to successfully restore the building.”

“The Schleyer Foundation is committed to spending the necessary amount to meet the original assessment of what would be required to make it ready for occupancy,” Chinburg said.

“With an anticipated renovation cost of over $2 million, the Schleyer Foundation is uniquely suited to make the investment into the property,” Chinburg said in a letter to city officials.

Portsmouth Music and Arts Center (PMAC) is planned to be the “sole tenant” of the restored South Meeting House building, according to the foundation’s RFP to the city.

“Together we aim to transform this historic venue into a vibrant community visual arts center that will serve as a hub for arts education, exhibitions and community engagement,” according to the Foundation’s RFP.

PMAC’s plan is to continue holding music programs at its existing Islington Street location, “while visual arts programs would move to the South Meeting House,” according to the RFP.

Denton says only a small minority in South End opposed VFW at South Meeting House

City Councilor Josh Denton, the former VFW post commander, said the VFW did prepare a response to the city’s RFP request. But after discussions, the veterans’ group  “ultimately decided against submitting it to the city,” Denton said Thursday afternoon.

The letter Day sent was to “let the city know and let everyone know we’re withdrawing our name,” said Denton, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq. But he added that “we would be interested if an alternative site becomes available in the future.”

He noted the city has a number of properties it leases to nonprofits.

After the VFW submitted its letter to the city, Day was “deployed to the Middle East in support of ongoing contingency operations,” he said. “It’s ironic that the commander of the VFW was deployed in a theater of operations while all this was going on."

Denton also commented on neighbors of South Meeting House who spoke against the VFW moving into it.

"There are some really good people who live in the South End,” Denton said. “There was a small fraction of them who came out against us."

The biggest mission of the VFW, Denton explained, is to make sure veterans have access to the benefits they earned.

But he acknowledged it would have been nice to “have a private club” at the South Meeting House to give veterans a place to gather and relax.

Denton and other VFW members had talked about the possibility of creating a couple of affordable housing units at the South Meeting House.

The city has allowed the VFW to meet monthly in the city’s Senior Activity Center, he said. But VFW officials plan to continue to look for a permanent home.

Denton said he’s excited to hear more about the arts and culture center plan now being proposed for South Meeting House.

“I’d love to see a qualified nonprofit that has the best interest of all of Portsmouth in mind to go in there,” Denton said.

Denton encouraged any veterans who needs help getting their benefits to call or text him. Likewise, anyone in the community who might have a permanent location for a VFW post can reach out to him at 603-553-1810.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: South Meeting House's proposed tenant: Portsmouth Music and Arts Center. VFW backs off.