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Date: 8/23/2023
CHICOPEE — Two redevelopment proposals for the Uniroyal property were received and will be reviewed by the city before it determines what will replace the vacant space.
Chicopee Planning and Development Director Lee Pouliot explained that the redevelopment proposals were extended and accepted until Aug. 4.
“The next steps are for the city to review both proposals through a review committee and to evaluate and score them based on the criteria set forth in the [request for proposal] that was released and once that evaluation is done, the goal of the review committee will be determined whether or not there’s a preferred developer that the city would then move in to negotiations with for future property sales,” said Pouliot.
He shared that the goal is to have a preferred developer — if one of the two is so determined — by the end of the year.
At press time, Pouliot said he did not want to comment on what is being proposed until the selection committee has a chance to unbiasedly review them. Generally, he noted that they are mixed use proposals.
“After the city’s been working since 2010 to prepare for redevelopment, it’s certainly an achievement to receive two proposals for the property’s redevelopment that are hopefully in line with the redevelopment plan for the property,” Pouliot said.
The Uniroyal property is the fourth and final redevelopment site for RiverMills at Chicopee Falls.
The Uniroyal Redevelopment Parcel includes 9.58 acres of property located south of lot No. 4 of the former Facemate property, also known as the “Baskin Redevelopment Parcel.” The property currently has four buildings remaining that have been retained for redevelopment. According to the Mayor’s Office,
“The city will prioritize redevelopment proposals that provide for creative reuse of these unique industrial structures consistent with the RiverMills Vision Plan.”
In May, Pouliot told Reminder Publishing that planning work for this project began in 2009 and accelerated as the phases were figured out.
While the city planned for redevelopment of the Uniroyal parcel and Facemate, Pouliot said the city could not afford everything at once and prioritized Facemate.
On the Facemate property, a senior center was built and opened in 2014, an assisted living facility opened in 2019, along with the addition of housing and more.
With Facemate underway, Pouliot said the focus shifted to Uniroyal as the site required a longer clean up.
The assessment and cleanup of the former Uniroyal site has been completed by the city. Pouliot said, “[It] makes us feel confident [and we] can give developers a clear picture” of what can be done.
All four remaining buildings have been “prioritized and cleaned up,” Pouliot shared.
Since 2012, Pouliot said that the city has been writing competitive grants for brownfields cleanup through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Chicopee received about $22 million through this funding source, he shared.
Between the former Facemate and Uniroyal properties, the city has invested over $40 million to complete environmental assessment and cleanup activities to best position these properties for reuse.
On the city side, no more funding is required. Pouliot said the “significant investments” are behind them.
“The Uniroyal Development Parcel offers an exciting opportunity for an innovative development team to create a signature mixed-use project on the banks of the Chicopee River,” said Mayor John Vieau. “We are especially thrilled to begin this substantial segment of RiverMills redevelopment as this parcel is the largest private redevelopment parcel created as part of the RiverMills plan. This is a significant project that will serve to continue the revitalization of Chicopee Falls and the city of Chicopee.”
City Treasurer Michael Laflamme shared, “Following a complicated tax foreclosure process for the former Uniroyal and Facemate properties circa 2010, the city has been aggressive and consistent in its efforts to plan for the redevelopment of these properties. Following successful redevelopment of three redevelopment parcels created out of the former Facemate property, the Uniroyal Redevelopment Parcel completes the city’s efforts to return these properties to productive reuse.”