CPA Projects – Detailed Report

This project will preserve and restore the historic John Jarvis House, a Town-owned federal style, wood clapboard, two-story structure, built in 1833, which presently houses the Arlington Legal Department. The property is located within the Arlington Center and Pleasant Street Historic Districts and is registered locally, with the Commonwealth, as well as nationally as an historic resource. Funding will be used to — consistent with historic preservation requirements — properly paint, patch, and repair the wooden clapboard exterior and shutters and replace the current storm windows; all are necessary to properly seal the building envelope and restore the Jarvis House exterior appearance. Funding will also be used to install a new heat pump HVAC system to help decrease high interior humidity and prevent significant swelling in the summer months (which is so severe as to prevent windows from being opened and has resulted in cracks in historic glass windowpanes), replace inefficient and ineffective heating in winter months, and improve indoor air quality year-round for staff and visitors. Such systems are both necessary to preserve the building (a burst pipe caused by an outdated system resulted in a significant leak in the rear conference room) and consistent with the Town’s energy efficiency goals.