Town granted a million to revamp Southeast Target Area

Date: 7/22/2010

July 21, 2010

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor

WEST SPRINGFIELD -- The southeast corner of town is about to get a facelift thanks to a $1 million Community Development Block Grant.

Gov. Deval Patrick announced that 68 municipalities statewide received a portion of the $33.6 million federal grant funds to finance infrastructure upgrades and social services.

"These grants will help communities get to work on a variety of projects that will make a real difference in people's lives and our Commonwealth stronger in the long run," he said. "Whether they are used to spruce up homes or storefronts, better public services, or replace streets and sidewalks, these funds will generate jobs and make neighborhoods better places to live, work and conduct business."

West Springfield's $1 million grant, a record high for the town, will be used for housing rehabilitation, neighborhood code violation enforcement, sidewalk replacement and social services. Residents will have access to additional services thanks to the grant including housing and family counseling, English as a Second Language classes and the summer youth program at the Boys and Girls Club.

Joseph Laplante, director of Community Development, explained the town has a "multi-faceted program" established for the grant money. The funds will improve the Southeast Target Area, otherwise known as the Merrick-Memorial Tract, according to Mayor Edward Gibson.

Half of the grant money is allocated for the rehabilitation of 15 housing units, Laplante explained, while $270,000 is earmarked for sidewalk replacement and $50,000 for social services. Sidewalks on Bridge, New Bridge, Bliss, Worcester, Fairview, Irving and Church streets will be repaired or replaced.

He noted a portion of the funds would be used for sanitary code enforcement in the Southeast Target Area as that's where three quarters of all complaints are filed due to aging structures.

"It's a rare opportunity in these particular times," Gibson said of receiving such a high amount that funds so many of the town's needs.

He added that additional rehabilitation projects are required in the Southeast Target Area including more infrastructure repairs, which will be addressed using allocations from next year's Block Grant or other funding sources.