New Old Hill on the horizon

By Dan Cooper

Staff Intern

SPRINGFIELD - "We have reached a significant point in the restoration of the Old Hill neighborhood," Mayor Charles V. Ryan announced on April 23 at Barrows Park on Walnut Street.

"By October, all of our efforts will be completed with the exception of the renovations of Hancock Street and DeBerry Park," Ryan said of the city's campaign to improve the infrastructure of the neighborhood.

In 2006, 21 houses were demolished in the Old Hill neighborhood, including ones on Pendleton Avenue, and Collins, Hancock, Walnut and Tyler Streets.

Twelve more are currently scheduled for demolition this year, including additional houses on Hancock Street.

Road improvements done in the Old Hill neighborhood that have been completed from 2004-2007 include Monroe, Hawley, Walnut, Hickory, Marshall, Quincy and Oak Streets.

Road improvements proposed for the rest of 2007 include Chapel, Colchester, Collins, Granville, Greene, Ladd, Logan, Melrose, Oak, Olive, Terrence and Winchester Streets, and Nelson and Pendleton Avenue.

Sidewalks in the Old Hill neighborhood that were replaced from 2004 through 2006 include 80 Colton Street, 139 Cotton Street, 337-39 Walnut Street, 112 and 426-428 Eastern Avenue, and 270 Wilbraham Road.

Among the sidewalks slated for improvement this year are 34 Marshall, 32 Manhattan, 156 Hancock, 228 and 286 Quincy and 811-823 Winchester Streets.

Ryan said he feels confident that this restoration will be shown as a model for the rest of the city.

"We're looking at a neighborhood with 20 years of neglect," he continued. "We're hoping to build upon this."

Ryan said he has started an Urban Forestry program for the Old Hill neighborhood and the city. "We plan to plant 308 trees in this neighborhood," Ryan said.

"Because of the Urban Forestry initiative, we are already halfway to repairing other neighborhoods."

Ryan added that one of the biggest areas of concern is the struggle to make a neighborhood attractive despite problems such as graffiti in neighborhood parks.

Patrick Sullivan, the Director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation, said $500,000 of state and city money funded the Old Hill project. "It's exciting to see the neighborhood and city work together," he said.

The renovation project started three-and-a-half years ago.

The renovations for Barrows Park include the installation of a swing set and new water spray playground.

The proposed improvements for DeBerry Park include renovating the existing ballfield, installing a new basketball court, and putting up new perimeter fencing.

The infrastructure improvements complement the housing initiative in the Old Hill neighborhood by the city, Springfield Neighborhood Housing services, HAP Housing, Inc., Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, the Old Hill Neighborhood Council, and Springfield College.

The coalition announced they are committed to developing 100 houses in the next five years. Six have already been completed for low-income families.

Ryan said the total development cost is $20 million for the new houses.