WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williams College plans to begin demolition of the old Williams Inn as early as the beginning of August, a school spokesperson said on Monday.
Last Thursday, the college installed chain-link fence around the perimeter of the building site at the junction of Routes 2 and 7.
Monday morning, Williams Director of Media Relations Greg Shook said the fencing was installed to allow hazardous materials abatement to begin inside the former inn built in 1974 on college land. The college purchased the building and business from the Faulkners in 2014.
That abatement is scheduled to wrap up at the end of July with demolition to follow "soon after," Shook wrote in reply to an email seeking an update.
"Then [the college will] prepare the grounds (grass, seeds, etc.) in late September," Shook wrote. "We're still considering how the site may be used, and no plans have been made yet."
Last summer, the college opened the new Williams Inn at the bottom of Spring Street.
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I read that it may become the site of the new Williams College Museum of Art.
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.
The Charter Review Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to endorse an amended version of the compliance provision it drafted to be added to the Town Charter. click for more
Developer David Traggorth asked the trustees to make the contribution from its coffers to help unlock an additional $5.4 million in state funds for the planned 54-unit apartment building at the south end of the Cable Mills site.
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The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, say the gift reflects their desire to not only support Williams but also President Maud S. Mandel's strategic vision and plan for the college.
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Neighbors of a proposed subdivision off Summer Street last week asked the Planning Board to take a critical look at the project, which the residents say is out of scale to the neighborhood. click for more