332 West Street Barn Restoration, $75,000 (CPAC Vote: 9-0) – The Amherst Historical Commission, on behalf of the property owners, requests funds for the preservation and stabilization—new roof, replacement of siding, doors and windows, and structural improvements—of the barn located at 332 West Street. It was originally built as a tobacco barn in the 1900’s and was then converted to a dairy barn, with the addition of a milking shed on the south, a hay loft and track inside the barn, and the silo. As one of the few original barns remaining along Route 116 in South Amherst, the barn’s prominent and highly visible location has made it a landmark and an integral component of the community’s landscape. The Amherst Master Plan and Historic Preservation Plan emphasize the importance of the community’ agricultural past that is embodied in the landscape and extant structures such as barns because it helps serve an economic purpose (cultural tourism) and as a physical reminder of the past, it educates the public about Amherst’s agrarian roots. The Historical Commission has determined that the barn is historically significant and it has been identified as a priority to document by a consultant inventorying outbuildings as part of a Planning and Survey grant awarded from the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Although it is too early to speculate about possible future programming or uses for the barn, the owners have indicated a willingness to discuss options for storage and events by local farmers and organizations. If preserved, the entire property—barn and house—would be placed under an historic preservation restriction to protect and maintain the structures.