Belchertown, Ludlow receive rehabilitation project grants

Date: 9/6/2023

On Aug. 25, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Edward Augustus Jr. joined Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson, members of the local legislative delegation, and municipal leaders from across the state to award $64.9 million in Community Development Block Grants.

Ludlow and Belchertown were both awarded $1.35 million.

“This investment will allow cities and towns across Massachusetts to strengthen and revitalize their communities,” said Gov. Maura Healey in a statement. “Across the state, we are going to see cities and towns use these Community Development Block Grants to fix their roadways, expand their housing options and improve the quality of life they offer their residents.”

Ludlow

Ludlow was awarded $1.35 million to support housing rehabilitation for eight units and infrastructure improvements in the Robert Street neighborhood.

Ludlow Town Administrator Marc Strange said the housing rehabilitation will occur in approximately eight units of housing occupied by low- to moderate-income persons within the town of Ludlow.
Both owner-occupied and investor-owned properties are eligible.

“Improvements will include repair and/or replacement of basic building systems, lead and hazardous materials abatement, removal of architectural barriers and corrections to sanitary code and building code violations. It is expected that there will be approximately 20 or 25 persons per household low- and moderate-income beneficiaries from this program. Emergencies that present an imminent threat to the health and safety of the occupants will be prioritized,” Strange added.

The total budget for this project is $240,000.

Strange said, “The town of Ludlow, like many towns, struggles with needed infrastructure upgrades with their limited tax base and subsequent limited municipal budget. Like many other downtown center streets, aged infrastructure systems including poor street surfaces exist on both Marie and Carol Streets.”

The proposed Robert Street Neighborhood Improvement Project will provide for engineering design services that will lead to infrastructure improvements including water and sewer line replacement, drainage improvements and road resurfacing.

The project will include both Marie and Carol Streets, which are located within the Robert Street neighborhood.

The project will replace the aging and undersized water lines as the existing 6-inch cast iron water main will be upgraded to an 8-inch ductile iron water main along with new service lateral service lines.

In addition, new fire hydrants will also be installed to comply with fire codes.

The project will also make improvements to the existing sewer and storm water drainage system by upgrading piping and structures and will also include full depth roadway pavement reclamation.
The project area includes Carol Street and Marie Street beginning at the intersection with Robert Street and ending to the west at the Motyka Street intersection, a total combined length of approximately 700 feet.

The total budget for this project is $817,500.

Strange said, “The Board of Selectmen and I were thrilled to receive this grant funding for two much-needed projects. With these funds, we should be able to provide housing improvements for eight low-moderate income units and complete an overhaul of both Marie and Carol Streets. The cost of infrastructure improvements has risen exponentially since COVID-19 and the town only receives $680,000 in Chapter 90 funds this fiscal year.”

Strange said if the town had to pay for the improvement by themselves the town would have had to split the projects over two fiscal years and these would have been the only streets improved this year.
He added, “Many municipalities, particularly in the western part of the state, have been crippled by increasing infrastructure project costs but level Chapter 90 funding from the state. Again, we are thrilled to receive these funds and want to thank both the Healey-Driscoll Administration for this competitive award and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission for their assistance.”

Belchertown

Belchertown was awarded $1.35 million to support infrastructure improvements at Sports Haven Mobile Home Park, 370 Mill Valley Rd.

Back in February, the Select Board voted to allow the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to submit a proposed Community Development Block Grant application that will not exceed $1.35 million to assist with the water and septic improvements at the Sports Haven Mobile Home Park.

There have been problems with the water in terms of contamination at the Sports Haven Mobile Park for a long time according to PVPC member Erica Johnson and former Town Administrator Gary Brougham and the town identified that there is a need for a new well location.

Both Johnson and Town Planner Doug Albertson said this is a project that Brougham was working on for many years before he retired, and they are happy to see the complex receive a grant to help with the problems.

Right now, there are some individual septic systems for the units and some are shared septic units but when the project is finished, there is going to one large system for the whole park.

Phase one of the project was completed which was determining a new well location and digging a new test well to make sure the water and pressure was good.

The final plans are also completed and phase one has begun but Johnson added they needed more money to complete the project.

In January 2021, Belchertown was awarded $58,745 to support the design and installation of interim chlorine disinfection.

In January 2023, Belchertown was awarded a $200,000. The project involved the installation of a water storage tank, emergency generator and pump house.

The rest of the funds have been used for determining a new location and drilling the new well according to Johnson and the new grant will be used to finish up the distribution system for the water.

“We have enough money to do the well and get the pump in place, but we also need to be able to get the water to the people,” Johnson added.

The additional funds from the state will be used to get the water to the people and finish up the septic work as well.