Adams Seeks Funds for Parking Lot, Building Rehabs
 The Selectmen wanted a longer term lease for the proposed parking lot on Summer Street because of the amount of the investment. |
They also unanimously approved an updated community development strategy to accompany the application. The deadline for the Community Development Block Grant is Dec. 10; the town can apply for up to $1 million.
Some $285,155 would be targeted to demolish several dilapidated buildings behind Albert's at 92-94 Summer St. for a fenced-in, 14-15 space lot with landscaping and drainage. Another $61,362 would go toward "program delivery," such as legal costs.
"I think, importantly, it would continue the positive impact and momentum started by the Summer Street project and begin to have that positive impact on the interior neighborhoods that are kind of bordered by Winter Street and Summer Street," said Community Development Director Donna Cesan, adding "It would be a good, attractive neighbor to surrounding properties."
The town has been putting effort into reviving the Summer Street neighborhood, including a nearly complete streetscape project along the commercial end of the street and plans to demolish the vacant Sweet Shoppe building at 82 Summer St. Waterman Excavation was recently awarded the contract to take down the Sweet Shoppe.
The new lot would more than make up for the loss of a handful of spaces from the street reconstruction and would likely use a parking kiosk, rather than meters, allowing the town to assess the kiosk's potential elsewhere. The land would remain in private hands and be leased by the town.
Cesan said the town is also looking into using Chapter 90 road funds for repairing and repaving Kearns Lane in that neighborhood.
The grant application also includes housing rehabilitation funds of $397,500 and program delivery costs of $90,200. The owner of the Albert's Hardware building has been encouraged to apply for rehab funds, said Cesan.
The final piece of the application is $86,799 for general administration, such as salaries. Cesan cautioned the Selectmen that the numbers are "very preliminary."
The seven-page town strategic plan for the grant proves the community is defining needs and priorities and has set out a plan of action for using both CBGD and other funds, said Cesan. The application requires as much detail as possible to prove that the town is not only aligned with its own priorities and the state's sustainable development guidelines, but is ready to move forward immediately.
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The town lost an earlier grant for the Summer Street project because it only had schematics, not hard enough numbers. This time, the Community Development Office has been working with several engineers to have appropriate estimates ready. When questioned by Chairman Michael Ouellette of when a reguest for proposals would be ready, Cesan said: "At 11:59 on Dec. 10."
The three selectmen present, Oullette, Scott Nichols and Jason Hnatonko, expressed some concern that the proposed lease of the parking lot property would only be 30 years. They asked Cesan to find out if it could be lengthened to 50 years.
"I think this is the most crucial piece of property bringing this all together," said Daniel Paciorek, owner of The Grille across from Albert's Hardware. He was glad the landmark front building, owned by the late Albert M. Abraham, had a chance for rehabilition. "Leh's Lane, Kearn's Lane, Weber street, you tie together these three streets and you're really going to have something."
In other business:
♦ Town Administrator Jonathan Butler said the town is reviewing three very detailed bids for installing a solar array at the landfill. "This could really yield significant cost savings to the town of Adams in the coming decades," said Bulter, adding it "could put Adams really on the map in New England."
♦ Town Clerk Haley Meczywor, on behalf of the Events Planning Committee, said the annual tree lighting will be held Sunday, Nov. 28, from 2 to 5 at the Town Common. Santa Claus arrives around 3:30 and will light the tree at 4. Hot cocoa, cookies and doughnuts will be provided by the Adams Elks and Lions. There will also be hayrides and other activities. Santa will then he'll light the tree at 5:15 on Summer street.
♦ The tree on the common was donated by Albina Cirone of McKinley Street and the Summer Street tree by Dave and Paula Randall of Harbor Road in Cheshire.
♦ Town meeting member Jeffrey Lefebvre expressed concern over the number of properties the town has been taking. He also said he'd received complaints about the new sidewalk bumpouts on Summer Street. "I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but that we should look at it," he said, because there have been difficulties with trucks unloading and traffic.
Adams Community Development Block Grant Strategic Plan
