Williamstown Garage Site Cleanup Pegged at $15K

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Affordable Housing Trust Fund's Board of Trustees on Wednesday evening heard an update on the status of cleaning up soil contamination at the former site of the town garage.

The chairman of the Affordable Housing Committee, who also serves as a trustee for the trust, told her colleagues that the committee has received an estimate of $15,000 for additional cleanup at 59 Water St., a parcel that is being eyed for developing subsidized housing.

"This is work that has been ongoing since last summer that the Affordable Housing Committee has paid for," Catherine Yamamoto said. "Tests were done on the site that determined it had contamination from underground storage tanks."

Yamamoto said her committee has a proposal in hand from environmental engineering firm O'Reilly, Talbot and Okun of Springfield. The proposal, which will be taken up at the AHC's Feb. 12 meeting, says the contaminated earth could be removed and the surrounding areas tested within six weeks of the committee's decision to approve the expenditure.

The trustees decided to let the Affordable Housing Committee continue to deal with the issue, but trust Chairman Stanley Parese noted that if for some reason the committee decides not to authorize the expenditure, the trustees would revisit the issue.

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.

 

But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.

 

"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."

 

"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.

 

Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.

 

The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.

 

Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.