Trio of development projects moving forward

Date: 2/7/2011

Feb. 7, 2011

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD — There is progress on three economic development projects, two of which were announced last year.

John Judge, the city's chief development officer, explained to Reminder Publications that plans to demolish the former Asylum nightclub building on Main Street and to redevelop the Mason Square Fire Station and the Indian Motorcycle buildings are moving forward.

He added there has "some movement" on the long-stalled redevelopment of the former Court Square Hotel building at 31 Elm St. He said he could not offer any details at this time, other than the building under the current discussions would have a mixed use.

"I think people will be pleased with the outcome," Judge said.

He said the demolition of the Asylum nightclub building at the corner of Main and Worthington streets has been delayed by about a month because of a protest over the bidding process. A contract has been issued and the contractor will have six months to complete the demolition, although Judge believes the building will be down by the end of April.

He called it a "delicate demolition" because the front third of the building facing Main Street will be retained, while the latter two-thirds will be removed for a 25-car parking lot. He added, "Structurally it's like Fort Knox."

The new parking lot will be the site for a farmers' market. He said the city received a $440,000 grant to fund the market.

The remaining part of the Asylum building will be the new home of the Springfield Business Improvement District, he said. Additional tenants haven't yet been determined. Judge would like to see the facade returned to its original art deco look and wants the building to add light to that block.

He added two additional factors would add a potential for synergy to that section of Main Street. He said that developer and executive director of the New England Farm Workers' Council, Heriberto Flores, has purchased the building housing the historic Student Prince Cafe & The Fort Restaurant.

The second development will be the influx of additional people working downtown when Baystate Medical Center transfers personnel to the former Federal Building — now known as 1550 Main St. — in the spring.

The plans for the redevelopment of the Mason Square Fire Station have not been abandoned, Judge said. City officials have been meeting at least once a month with representatives of American International College, the city's preferred developers for the fire station and the Indian Motorcycle buildings.

Judge said college officials are still finding the resources for the project. He noted that grant money from state and federal sources is a challenge to find and that "banks are still relatively skittish."

The project includes using the fire station for the new home of WAIC radio and an Internet cafe . The college is considering plans for the section of the Indian building that was not used for apartments.

Judge expects that designs and budgets will be finished this spring, with construction to begin in the fall.

"The college is certainly committed to moving the project forward," Judge said.