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Date: 10/3/2023
SPRINGFIELD — Some of the city’s oldest buildings are set to receive funding for restoration and rehabilitation, thanks to the Community Preservation Act.
The City Council approved the funding allocations as part of the hearing on this year’s CPA grant recommendations during a special meeting on Sept. 27. CPA funds are collected through an additional 1.5% surcharge on real estate taxes for residential, commercial, and industrial properties to invest in projects related to open space and recreation, historic preservation and community housing. The CPA has been in effect in Springfield since 2017 after voters approved its adoption during the November 2016 election.
The council approved the use of $250,000 in CPA funds toward the redevelopment of the former Indian Orchard fire station on Oak Street into a community center. That building, which was originally built in 1897, according to the Springfield Preservation Trust, has not been an active fire station since the late 1960s and has primarily been used for storage since.
“I’m thrilled that we’re finally finding a use for it,” said City Councilor at-Large Kateri Walsh.
The city had put the redevelopment of the 13,500-square-foot parcel, including the 11,732-square-foot structure, out to bid multiple times without success before the Indian Orchard Citizens Council announced that the city committed to convert the fire station’s ground floor into a community center in April.
With a total projected cost of $4 million, the IOCC has a long-term goal of repurposing the vacant Fire Department relic into a community hub that would include meeting spaces, health clinics, a computer lab and community-based activities such as art and education classes. According to the citizen council’s announcement, the city would retain ownership of the building while the IOCC, Wellspring Cooperative, the Indian Orchard Branch Library, Community Survival Center, Greater New Life Community Center and Orchard Covenant Church would manage the building under a collaborative umbrella called Grow IO.
The council allowed the allocation from the CPA’s Historic Resources Reserve. The city previously appropriated $1.5 million in ARPA funding toward the stabilization of the building and the CPA money will be used specifically for exterior improvements such as doors, windows and roofing to ensure the building’s preservation.
Additionally, a $250,000 grant award was approved for Connecticut developer Thomas Napolitano’s plans to restore the Gunn Block Building on the corner of State and Walnut streets. The plan at present is to redevelop the building, first erected in the 1830s, into a mixed use space with a coffee shop and laundry facility on the ground floor and seven apartments above.
“This is one of the oldest commercial buildings left in the city,” Community Preservation Committee Chair Robert McCaroll said. “It has been in a deteriorated state for some time.”
It’s not the first time the city has allocated CPA funds toward the property. McCaroll explained a CPA grant was used to stabilize the building when it was owned by DevelopSpringfield. DevelopSpringfield sold the property to Napolitano in December 2022 for $79,000, according to the Registry of Deeds. Napolitano owns the abutting property as well.
Developers working on the redevelopment of the Kavanagh building on State Street were also approved for a $210,000 grant, but not without pushback.
The $8.5 million redevelopment project will convert the building into 35 affordable one- or two-bedroom apartments as well as commercial space. Donald Mitchell of Renaissance Development explained the redevelopment will create 29 construction jobs and 19 permanent jobs. The project also received $2 million in city ARPA funds. A groundbreaking ceremony for this project took place on Sept. 15.
The Kavanagh Furniture building operated from 1873 until its closing in early 2009 and has been vacant since that time.
Councilor at-Large Sean Curran took issue with the plan as a whole, which includes a second phase of units that would be set aside as permanent supportive housing units for people who have experienced homelessness. Through a collaboration with the nonprofit MHA, those residents would receive support services there. Specifically, Curran had concerns about those units’ proximity to the High School of Commerce.
“The fact that this will be a complex that is going to house people with challenges in mental health — and I worked as a former prosecutor, I worked as a defense attorney, I understand the recovery community — you’re going to have people with severe mental health problems, severe alcohol problems, severe drug problems, and, again, they’re going to essentially be on the front lawn of Commerce High,” he said. “I don’t think that would happen if it was Longmeadow High School, [Minnechaug Regional High School], East Longmeadow High School, so why should we embrace a development with that kind of potential for conflict here in Springfield?”
He also questioned the size of the housing units, given the number proposed for the square footage.
“That’s not specific to this development. This is all developers. We really need to get tough and demand that if we’re going to provide taxpayer dollars to these developments, they have to be suitable housing,” he said.
Councilor at-Large Tracye Whitfield acknowledged the concern, but stressed the need for spaces to address the city’s burgeoning mental health crisis. She said similar concerns regarding the high school were brought up when the project was in committee and a partnership between the developer, MHA and the school was being established. She added the Springfield Police Department’s Quebec Team, the city’s school resource officers, were at the school providing security, and the special housing units would also have security.
Walsh noted that representatives from the schools and Springfield Technical Community College were present at the groundbreaking, which signals a relationship between the parties.
Several councilors noted that the project has already been vetted and debated by the council. “In summary, the horse is out of the barn, and at this point in time, the only thing we’d be doing is hindering the project,” City Councilor at-Large Justin Hurst said of withholding CPA funding.
The Springfield Preservation Trust also received $150,920 for its efforts to restore the 7-9 Stockbridge St. building, which will serve as the organization’s new home. The Springfield Preservation Trust closed on the transaction on April 19 for 7-9 Stockbridge St. and announced the purchase on April 22.
Built in 1845, the structure, also known as the Guenther and Handel’s Block, is the third oldest building in downtown Springfield, after Old First Church and the Byers Block, according to the trust.
The trust intends to use the funding for building stabilization as well as new masonry, windows, doors and paint. The total project cost is $511,520 In addition to housing the trust’s offices, two additional rental units will be available.
Additional projects approved for CPA funding include:
Abbey Brook Conservation Area - $500,000
This grant will fund the acquisition of approximately 5.3 additional acres directly along Liberty Street, adding to the existing 75 acres that make up the existing Hogan/Abbey Brook tract. The application was made by the Conservation Commission, the Hungry Hill Neighborhood Council, and the city’s Office of Planning and Economic Development.
The acquisition will be funded by two allocations of $250,000 from the CPA’s fiscal year 2023 and 2024 undesignated reserves.
Historic Homes Restoration Program - $250,000
This program provides grants of up to $30,000 to owner-occupants of homes in the city’s historic districts for the purpose of exterior improvements. McCaroll explained that the program is administered by the CPC, which holds a lottery to choose the participants. The program had more than 200 applicants last year and eight to 10 receive funding annually. The funding is split between undesignated reserves — $221,700 — and the Historic Resources Reserve — $28,300.
Angelina Park — $250,000
The East Springfield Neighborhood Council requested the funding for improvements including three new playscapes, a connector path and wheelchair accessible picnic tables. The park previously received $100,000 in CPA funds to replace the basketball courts in 2019.
Kilroy House Exterior Restoration Phase 3 — $250,000
McCaroll explained that Phase 3 of this project would complete the restoration work on the historic Mission Revival style house located on the grounds of the Springfield Museums complex. Previous CPA investments of $92,775 and $250,000 went toward the project in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Alden Street Park — $250,000
The city’s Department of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management, along with Springfield Conservation and Nature Stewardship, are seeking to expand recreational opportunities at the park, located at Watershops Pond near the General Edwards Bridge. The improvements would include a fishing pier, benches, picnic tables and a walkway
Myrtle Street Park — $249,554
The IOCC and the Department of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management plan to design and construct a walking path, exercise equipment and game tables.
D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts Phase 2 — $150,000
The second phase of this project continues the Springfield Museums’ restoration of the building’s exterior by cleaning the limestone façade and replacing the original steel sash windows made in 1933.
Gemini Townhomes — $96,000
For the second year, Home City Development will receive funding for its development of 40 new homeownership units at the South End’s former Gemini factory site, targeting first-time homebuyers. Funding is split between the Housing Reserve —$52,800 — and undesignated reserves — $43,200.
Daniel’s New Bethel Church of God in Christ — $80,000
The funding supports the restoration of 14 windows and railing as well as masonry work, including the chimney at the church located on Dwight Street.
Trinity United Methodist Church — $65,000
The Sumner Avenue church intends to use the funding to repair and restore its non-religious stained glass windows.
Immaculate Conception Church — $45,000
Funding will support repair and painting of the exterior of the church, located in Indian Orchard.
Community Music School of Springfield — $14,740
The Community Music School will use the funding to refinish its entrances, repair masonry and remove historically inappropriate additions to the former Springfield Safe Deposit and Trust Company building that was constructed in 1933.
Christian and Brian’s House — $3,900
The Michael J. Dias Foundation, which operates the sober living house on Mill Street in the Six Corners neighborhood, sought the funding to restore the house’s sagging roof line and repair the front porch.
Information on all of the projects is available at springfield-ma.gov/finance/community-preservation.