The Selectmen voted to apply for CDBG funds for the Memorial Building.
ADAMS, Mass. — The town will pursue Community Development Block Grant funds to install a heating and air-conditioning system in the Memorial Building.
After a public hearing Wednesday when Community Development Director Donna Cesan outlined the up to $550,000 grant, the Selectmen voted to go all in on the former school building this application cycle.
"We have worked through these issues and carefully evaluated the building for future use as a community center," Cesan said. "The project is consistent with the downtown plan and with our community development strategy."
The CDBG fund comes through U.S. Housing and Urban Development and must be applied for each year.
The former middle school has been closed for some time now and although past CDBG funds were used to replace the roof, the building cannot be fully utilized without an HVAC system.
Cesan said the new efficient system would be far better than the current antiquated defunct HVAC and work would be focused on the gymnasium and auditorium area. She added that improved windows and doors would be installed.
She noted that the original plan still stands, and the town would seek private interest in the classroom wing for possible housing development.
When the board opened up the hearing to the public, developer Richard Solis expressed his interest in developing the classroom wing of the building and building market-rate housing.
"This just seems very intriguing to me, and I have not heard of mixed uses like this done in any town," he said. "I think it is a fantastic idea."
Solis said he has developed similar projects throughout the county and is open to working with the town and meeting its needs. One of his projects is the Dalton Senior Home, formerly Curtis Manor, that was renovated for senior housing a few years ago.
"What I am here to say is that if anybody in the town is willing to work with me I would be willing to work with them to just do some brainstorming to see what is the best idea for the town," he said.
He said he did walk through the building and noted it is "built like a tank" and added that he did have a rough schematic drawn up and would be looking at possibly developing 20 units just in the classroom wing of the building.
Chairman John Duval said he was in favor of market-rate housing and noted the town already has enough low-income housing.
"That is where we need to go we need more moderate-income housing," he said. "We hire hundreds of young engineers at General Dynamics and we are always trying to find housing for them."
Selectman Joseph Nowak said he was in the last class to graduate when it was a high school in 1970 and is glad to see that there is an interest in the building.
"This building has gone through many different phases and many different ideas and it has been a sore point for some people," he said. "What I have heard tonight encourages me quite a bit … it is good to know someone is interested"
The board heard from other attendees including Council on Aging Director Erica Girgenti who said the school could be used as the Council on Aging.
She said the current facility at the Visitors Center just does not have enough space for the communities growing senior population.
"We are busting at the seams and we have a lot of usage and people interested in the building, but we are running out of space," she said. "It would benefit our community members more to have a larger space."
She said the extra space would allow the Council on Aging to expand programming and perhaps hire a program coordinator.
Richard Tavelli with the Adams Arts Advisory Committee also had ideas for the building.
"There are a lot of different programs that we are considering and that would be a great use for us to have this kind of facility," he said. "There is a marvelous auditorium with a stage and a large gym that can be used for different programming."
He added that the building would also allow the committee to host classes.
"We have a dazzling array of sculptors, painters, writers and creative people who would be willing to present their skills to people and help them if they wanted to peruse and artistic endeavor."
The board also heard from Emergency Management Director Dick Kleiner who said with an HVAC system the building could be a true emergency shelter.
Cesan said the construction itself is anticipated to cost $450,000 and the rest of the grant used for administrative costs and grant execution.
She said if the town receives the funds the construction could start this fall.
Also in regard to the Memorial Building, the Selectmen approved Berkshire Music School's request to use the facility to stage, paint and decorate pianos from around the county for the Summer Music Painted Piano Program in the former shop in the building.
"Pianos collected from throughout the county are going to be decorated here in the school," Tavelli said. "It will serve as a collection and workstation for the artists. The pianos will be placed throughout the county."
He said the program is in celebration of Leonard Bernstein's 100 birthday. The famed composer and conductor was born in Lawrence on Aug. 25, 1918, and was a frequent performer with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, giving his final performance at Tanglewood in 1990.
