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Date: 3/17/2022
CHICOPEE – Brisa Development is set to reinvent the former Baskin warehouse space with a $50 million project that will include a multi-purpose sports complex, a new restaurant and an eight-story apartment complex at 75 West Main St.
Background
The Baskin warehouse, which is also locally known as the “Facemate” parcel for neighboring the shuttered Uniroyal site, remained a part of the city’s process in revitalizing formerly dilapidated spaces. Mayor John Vieau shared that Planning Director Lee Pouliot served as a central presence in the city’s $40 million clean-up efforts, starting in 2009 during the project’s origins.
“Lee led the charge for all of it… It doesn’t happen overnight, it takes hard work,” said Vieau in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Pouliot shared that he and his team created a vision plan in approaching the mill. Before the clean-up, the mill’s shuttering structure featured vats of chemicals from prior uses, according to Pouliot. The 12-year cleaning process marks a significant milestone for the city, who sets their eyes on morphing a negative tax space into an economic asset.
“This project is really exciting for me…With the public sector cleaning the contaminated mill, the private sector can do anything with the space,” said Pouliot in an interview with Reminder Publishing. Described by Vieau as a “visionary and significant project,” for its multi-purpose use, the redevelopment effort includes 107 market-rate apartments within the apartment complex alongside an indoor environment for athletics.
Entitled the Singing Bridge Redevelopment Project by Brisa Development, the developer acquired the property from the city in March 2021, according to Brisa Development Co-Owner Hammad Graham. Each of the three spaces will combine to create 52 jobs for the city.
Zoning Committee
Graham, Vice President of Pare Corporation Alan Hanscom and Project Manager Andy Vann of the site’s architect Paul A. Castrucci Architects met with the Zoning Committee on Feb. 23 to discuss the project and its special permit waivers.
Brisa, Pare and Paul A. Castrucci Architects continue to serve as collaborators on the Singing Bridge Redevelopment Project, with Chicopee Sports Center, Inc President William Stetson overseeing operation of the athletic complex, according to Graham.
Graham expressed encouragement as his team accelerates the redevelopment process. “We’ve made a lot of progress since we were originally awarded the site and we look forward to continuing the momentum we have for the site thus far,” said Graham. The Brisa Development vice president shared that the current design of the project is in line with the group’s original Request for Proposal (RFP) request in 2020.
Vann provided an overview of the site’s design process. Along with the three central components, Vann shared that recent design revisions include a grocery store, a commercial office area and ample parking spaces. The project manager also stressed that the site’s exterior look will be maintained through renovations.
“We intend to leave the exterior of the building pretty much as is and restore all the brickwork as needed,” said Vann. As for the food space, Vann said the eatery will operate both as a restaurant and brewery space.
After Hanscom discussed the group’s waiver requests, the organizations further detailed the redevelopment’s impact study and refinements added to the site’s design.
City Council
The City Council voted on the Singing Bridge Redevelopment Project and its special permit during their March 1 meeting. Councilor At-Large James Tillotson stressed that the city should embrace projects of this magnitude that infuse growth in the city’s economy.
“It’s going to be attracting people. You can’t have jobs and you can’t raise money if you don’t have some traffic. We can’t every time someone comes in with something we find some fault with it,” said Tillotson.
While the councilor expressed his support, Ward 9 Councilor and Zoning Committee member Mary Elizabeth Pniak-Costello expressed her apprehensions after constituents called regarding the apartment complex’s 8-foot size.
“Residents have questioned the size of one of the buildings…so there is concern out there that I was not aware of at the time of the Zoning Committee meeting,” said Pniak-Costello.
After debate, the council approved each of the project’s special permit waiver requests in a 12-1 vote.