Cabotville project is back on track

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

CHICOPEE - Mayor Michael Bissonnette met with the owner of the Cabotville Industrial Park last week and had good news: plans to turn part of the huge structure into condos is moving forward.

Bissonnette met with developer Josh Guttman to discuss the progress of the project and received a timetable for the renovations of the factory building. Bissonnette said that by May, the final engineering plans should be completed, which would then trigger a public meeting on the project in June. The special permits needed for the development would then go before the Board of Aldermen for approval in September.

The delay has been on the side of the developer rather than the city and concerned the evaluation of an existing firewall, Bissonnette said. The mayor said, if left standing, the firewall presents considerable difficulty in the renovation of the pace into four floors each with 48 condo units. Guttman has hired Tighe & Bond to solve the problem.

Currently, the inspectors from the Fire and Building Departments are examining the space occupied by the current commercial tenants in order to identify any improvements needed to qualify for a certificate of occupancy.

At the same time, Bissonnette said, the Fire Department will review the building's sprinkler system.

The time of the building's renovation will fall at about the same time the state undertakes improvements to the Davitt Bridge and a reconstruction of Front Street, which Bissonnette said amounts to an $8 million investment in the infrastructure around the industrial complex.

The city will also be working with the Army Corps of Engineers on a flood control wall near the complex.

The result should be easier access into the parking area for people living and working at Cabotville.

With the condos occupied and the industrial space filled, Bissonnette predicts there would be from 600 to 800 people working at Cabotville and another 200 to 400 living there.

There are currently 600 parking spaces at the complex and Guttman owns two nearby vacant lots that could also be used for parking.

Bissonnette also said the meeting opened up a line of communications about available commercial and industrial space at the complex. He said his office has received inquiries from companies looking for spaces about 5,000 square feet in size and City Hall officials were unaware of such spaces for rent at Cabotville.

"Now they will let us know, and we will start working to fill it," Bissonnette said.

The new Cabotville project isn't just about condos, but job creation as well, he added.

Bissonnette believes the project, along with the move of Holyoke Catholic High School to Springfield Street, will be the sparks needed to help develop more retail businesses in the downtown area.

He said that Guttman is also thinking about how to incorporate first floor retail space into his complex.