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Date: 2/28/2019
CHICOPEE – After years of being closed to public use, the auditorium at City Hall will be getting a renovation that will allow it to be the site for City Council and School Committee meetings, and other public events in the future.
At a unique indoor “ground-breaking,” Mayor Richard Kos and other officials noted the $11 million project will begin March 1 and should be completed within 18 months. Although the city has bonded for the cost of the restoration, it has received grants to supplement the budget and is seeking additional grant funds.
Kos noted that in the past the auditorium was the location for mayors to take their oath of office, and in fact for him, it was the location when he was first sworn in in 1997.
The large room was closed in 2003 when the parts of the ceiling were falling. Kos added the deterioration of the sandstone mounts for the “rose” window endangering the window and the public was another indicator that renovations work had to be undertaken.
In the center of the room was a row of large wooden boxes which house pieces of the stain glass windows that had been removed and are being stored until restoration.
“We have a dream and that dream is this room, this building is continued to be used,” Kos said.
He discounted calls for the construction of a new City Hall, noting that as a historic structure, the building would still require being repaired and then a use for it would have to be determined.
According to information from the mayor’s office, City Hall was opened in 1871 with the annex opened in 1929. There has been no major rehabilitation work on the structure since 1980.
“I think communities should be respectful of their history when it comes to landmarks and treasures,” state Rep. Joseph Wagner said.
Kos said the auditorium would be permanently wired for the live broadcast of municipal meetings.
At the conclusion of the speaking program, his colleagues in government joined Kos and they were all handed crowbars for a ceremonial demolition of the floor of the stage.
“There’s a lot of work to be done, but it’s going to be great,” Joshua Clark, chair of the Historic Commission, said.