Williamstown Youth Center Breaks Ground On New Building
 Students and the Youth Center's Board of Trustees shared shovels to throw the first piles of dirt. |
The nonprofit organization began construction on a new 12,000 square foot building on Elementary School land after three years of planning — an achievement Youth Center Executive Director David Rempell calls "historic."
"These two buildings are a clear indication of the importance you are to us," Rempell told hundreds of Elementary School pupils at the construction site on Tuesday. "This is happening because the adults in this community care about you."
Scores of students marched from the school to the fenced-off construction area chanting "together, we did" — a play off the center's capital campaign slogan, "together we can." They gathered around former baseball fields where officials held a short ceremony to commemorate the occasion.
The children even sang their own song about the center and the event concluded with they and the Youth Center's board of directors tossing the first shovels of dirt while the rest of the students cheered they on.
"In my opinion, this whole event is about community," Rempell said. "We are making history here today."
Construction is expected to last until Oct. 1 with occupancy on Oct. 31 and provide a new and closer partnership between the school and the center's programming.
"This represents a new lease on life for the Youth Center," President Paul Jennings said. "These shovels really are the beginning of digging and the machines will start digging tomorrow."
 The new center is expected to open at the end of October. |
"This is going to be a new building that is used by you guys to enhance your learning in many, many ways," Jennings said.
The building replaced their former building on Cole Avenue that had been worn into deplorable conditions and for years the center was seeking a new location and had their eye on a partnership with the Elementary School when the town built the new school in 2002.
In 2009, center officials received preliminary permission to build on the school's land and embarked on a capital campaign to raise more than $3 million from more than 1,000 donors for the construction.
A groundbreaking was scheduled in 2010 but was delayed two times — once because of debate over the playground and another time to give architects more time to plan.
In February, Youth Center officials received the final nod of approval when they signed a 100-year lease with the school — setting the stage for Tuesday's event.
More photos of the ceremony can be found here and below is a "fly by tour" created by the architects, Black River Design, of what the final building will looking like.
RELATED STORIES
Williamstown Debates Elementary School Playground
WILLIAMSTOWN - 11-20-2010 - "Right now the playground is a community gathering place and we want to maintain that sense." — Principal Stephen...
| Williamstown Youth Center Clears First Permitting... WILLIAMSTOWN - 05-11-2011 - "Because they are building two buildings on the same land it has to comply as if it [was] two lots." — Pat... |
| Baseball Field, Swings, Being Moved at Williamstown... WILLIAMSTOWN - 08-12-2011 - "This was planned so that the children will be able to use the facilities throughout the school year." — David... |
| Williamstown Youth Center Delays Construction WILLIAMSTOWN - 07-12-2011 - "Six weeks is not much time to respond thoughtfully."— David Rempell |
WILLIAMSTOWN - 11-20-2010 - "Right now the playground is a community gathering place and we want to maintain that sense." — Principal Stephen...
| Williamstown Elementary Signs Lease With Youth Center WILLIAMSTOWN - 02-08-2012 - "This really is quite a historic partnership." — Paul Jennings. |
| Williamstown Youth Center Sets March 15 Groundbreaking WILLIAMSTOWN - 01-12-2012 - "We got it right." — David Rempell |
| Williamstown to Decide On Youth Center WILLIAMSTOWN - 01-18-2011 - A special meeting will be held in the school's auditorium Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. to finalize the center's footprint... |
| Williamstown Youth Center Addresses Drainage Concerns WILLIAMSTOWN - 07-13-2011 - "We felt we have a great plan to make everybody happy." — Charlie LaBatt |
| Campaign For New Youth Center Marches On WILLIAMSTOWN - 05-04-2010 - "It's no secret that this is not the right place for a youth center." — David Rempell |
| ZBA Slows Williamstown Youth Center Permitting WILLIAMSTOWN - 05-20-2011 - "I think we need to do something to address Mr. Winter's concerns. " Andrew Hoar |
| Williamstown Youth Center Location Chosen WILLIAMSTOWN - 01-19-2011 - "It's only been four months since last September when we first presented the site plan. For some of us I suggest it... |
Tags: groundbreaking, youth center,
