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Demolition began earlier this fall at the Cable Mills site.

Williamstown Finalizes Permits for Cable Mills Project

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
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Debra Turnbull, assistant to the town manager, and Allen Caldwell, project superintendent for NEI General Contracting hold the final building permits issued Friday for Cable Mills.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Cable Mills redevelopment on Water Street took another step forward on Friday when the town issued the final building permits for the development of 61 housing units in the historic mill building.
 
The project superintendent from NEI General Contracting picked up the paper work on Friday morning.
 
The contractor started work on the project earlier this fall, utilizing partial permits issued by the town's Building Department.
 
"The partial building permit allowed them to get a jump start," Town Manager Peter Fohlin said on Friday. "They started with demolition, which they have to do."
 
Fohlin said he was not aware of work that was being delayed in anticipation of the final permits.
 
"This was a well-coordinated effort between the architects, the contractor and the building department," he said.
 
Developer Mitchell Properties of Boston has told the town the project is on track for a December, 2015 opening.
 
When it is completed, Phase 1 of the Cable Mills property project will include 13 income-sensitive units among the 61.
 
That affordable housing dimension of the project, along the historic preservation and the creation of a river walk along the adjacent Green River, led to the town supporting the project to the tune of $1.5 million in Community Preservation Act funds.
 
Mitchell Properties estimates the total project cost at $27 million.

Tags: affordable housing,   Cable Mills,   housing development,   permitting,   

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Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.
 
Some of the "value engineering" changes are cosmetic, while at least one pushes off a planned expense into the future.
 
The committee, which oversees the Fire District, also made plans to hold meetings over the next two Wednesdays to finalize its fiscal year 2025 budget request and other warrant articles for the May 28 annual district meeting. One of those warrant articles could include a request for a new mini rescue truck.
 
The value engineering changes to the building project originated with the district's Building Committee, which asked the Prudential Committee to review and sign off.
 
In all, the cuts approved on Wednesday are estimated to trim $1.135 million off the project's price tag.
 
The biggest ticket items included $250,000 to simplify the exterior masonry, $200,000 to eliminate a side yard shed, $150,000 to switch from a metal roof to asphalt shingles and $75,000 to "white box" certain areas on the second floor of the planned building.
 
The white boxing means the interior spaces will be built but not finished. So instead of dividing a large space into six bunk rooms and installing two restrooms on the second floor, that space will be left empty and unframed for now.
 
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