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After three years, 'Crossing' starts

Date: 6/22/2010

June 23, 2010.

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

CHICOPEE -- The sign announcing the coming of "Chicopee Crossing" on Memorial Drive has been up for three years and finally its message is being fulfilled.

Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki joined developers and other elected officials in breaking ground for the new $35 million commercial project on Friday.

Frank Colaccino of the Colvest Group said the site would be the home of a Marriot Residence Inn, a three-story office building, 40,000 square feet of retail and spaces reserved for two potential restaurants and a bank.

Construction should start in six weeks, he added.

Officials estimated the construction would result in more than 800 jobs, with about 400 full and part time jobs once it sis completed.

Mayor Michael Bissonnette explained what moved the project along was the commitment by the state with $1.25 million in a Massachusetts Opportunity Relocations and Expansion (MORE) Jobs Capital that will pay for the construction of a new intersection allowing easy access to the site and to the one across the street where Casey Chevrolet once stood.

Memorial Drive will be widened as will Fuller Road and there will be installation of new traffic signals.

Colaccino called the grant "the missing piece" for the project.

Bissonnette explained, "Why this has sat fallow for 50 years or better is it is a difficult site ... but this is now going to happen."

State Rep. Joseph Wagner said he had shown Secretary of Transportation Jeffrey Mullen the location on his recent visit to the city and explained its needs to him. Mullen then coordinated his efforts with Bialecki.

Bialecki explained Gov. Deval Patrick wanted his secretaries to work together on projects and align priorities. Once this project had been identified, it became a priority.

He explained Chicopee Crossing is one of more than 50 housing and economic development projects expected to break ground this year that has received state funding. Those projects represent more than $1 billion in investment in the state.

Bialecki descibed the MORE grant award to the project as "a terrific, smart, prudent investment of your tax dollar."

The grant also illustrated "the importance of re-investing in infrastructure which has been so neglected," Bialecki said. The MORE grant allows the private sector to leverage its resources on projects, he added.

Congressman Richard Neal said, "This is an example of what fostering a good business climate can mean."

Neal noted, "It is important to emphasize in an [economic] downturn, this is when governments invests."

Bissonnette said that Balise Automotive, the owner of the former Casey Chevrolet site, has submitted preliminary plans for four buildings with 17,000 square feet of space.

The mayor said, "Route 33 is the hottest retail corridor in New England."