Adams Looking at CDBG Funds for Middle School, Northern Gateway
 Community Development Director Donna Cesan explained possible projects for which Community Development Block Grants can be used. |
ADAMS, Mass. — The former Adams Memorial Middle School will continue to be a major focus as the town develops its Community Development Block Grant strategy.
The procurement of funds for the vacant building was a hot topic at Tuesday night's public meeting on possible applications of federal CDBG money.
Director of Community Development Donna Cesan said the town will continue to focus on keeping the project revenue neutral.
Cesan said the town received funds to replace the roof of the building and that the next most important thing is to find funds to replace the heating and air conditioning system. Although the building is secure and partially used, without a new HVAC system, the town cannot take advantage of more expansive opportunities.
"It was built in 1952, and it is a solid building, but has minor issues," Cesan said. "The biggest impediment right now is the HVAC system in terms of putting it in full use."
Some residents felt it was contradictory to hear that the building was structurally sound after the middle school left because school officials claimed the building was deteriorating. This partly triggered the renovation of Hoosac Valley High School into a middle and high school.
Cesan said if the roof had not been replaced, the town would have totally lost the building because of sustained water damage. She said if this had happened, it would have lost a valuable resource.
"I think that gym is something of particular value to this and any community," she said. "It is the kind of facility you don't want to take lightly because I don't think you will see it again if you allow it to go into disrepair."
Some residents also felt the town did not look for private investors for the building.
Cesan said this was not the case and that the town "aggressively advertised." Adams spent nearly $4,000 in advertising, she said, and the only organization interested was a CVS that backed out of the offer.
Cesan said the town would like to implement elderly housing, a youth center and business space in the building.
Edmund St. John IV, a member of the Youth Center's board, said the center is excited to possibly utilize the facility because it will greatly expand its program. He said it would allow the center to expand into child care and even offer programs to adults and elderly residents.
Cesan said a lot of youth programs have taken an interest in the building and the town would like to turn the building into a "true community center." She agreed with St. John and said she would like to see it become a multigenerational community center.
"Whether you are 3, 30, or you're 90 there is something for you to do, and I think it helps promote community," she said. "Certainly there is so much about modern life that is trying to detract from community. That's one of the things I love about Adams … this town still has that richness of community, and I just see this building as really serving that purpose."
Cesan said the town also adopted a new target area to focus grant funds on. The more items in the target area that are applied for, the better chance of Adams getting the funding, she said.
Previously, the town had focused grant funds on the downtown area; this year it would like to expand the downtown to the town's gateway from North Adams.
That area has more than 500 properties that could benefit from rehabilitation and façade improvements, Cesan said. The town has rehabilitated nearly 108 properties so far and tries to average 10 a year.
"Our housing stock is old … and in the target area we had before, I think 80 percent of the housing stock in that area was pre-World War II," Cesan said. "There are code issues, and if we don't address these … I think we will start to lose units.
Cesan said the town will continue to work with Berkshire Scenic Railway and its planned line between Adams and North Adams and continue attempts to find money to develop the proper infrastructure.
"I think [the project] has the potential to really contribute to both communities economically," she said. "Both communities have been working hard to create a new tourist space and local economy …and I think this is the project that will really make this meaningful."
Adams is currently working on permitting with the state and, she said, this indicates that more progress on the train should come soon. Berkshire Scenic Railway also has pledged to work with local merchants and farmers for food and advertisement.
"We need to make sure that our merchants in downtown Adams are ready for this new opportunity, and that they position themselves to maximize that new opportunity," she said.
Cesan said the town will also seek funds for Hoosac Street's public parking in anticipation of the tourist railway. She said the Visitors Center parking lot needs maintenance and the town would like to add another parking area on Winter Street.
She said it may be opportunity to redesign the Visitors Center parking lot in a way that makes it more accessible for many of the events held there. She added the town is also looking at implementing a kiosk parking meter system to gain revenue from tourists using the lot.
"I don't think the town does a very good job of gaining revenue from the resources it has," she said. "Parking facilities are a resource, and if you go to any larger community, people are very used to paying for parking."
Cesan said the town would also like to look at renovating Russell Field, which needs a new parks building and a new tennis court, and suffers from drainage issues.
Parks Commissioner James Fassel said his commission wants to keep the project revenue neutral if possible.
"It's a beautiful spot for our society and our kids, but we aren't willing to go at it with our funds. We want to do it through a grant," he said.
He said the Parks Commission is looking for funds to hire a consultant to develop a master plan for the park and he believes it could cost upwards of $80,000 for a complete renovation.
Cesan said the town is also looking to find funds to extend the bike trail into North Adams, develop the Greylock Glen's campground, continue renovating the Registry of Deeds, renovate the Topia Arts Center, pursue a Green Community designation, develop a Hoosic River restoration project, and create a business-recruitment plan.
Tags: Adams Memorial Middle School, CDBG,
