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| By Katelyn Gendron Reminder Assistant Editor On July 24, Southwick and West Springfield were named as two of 55 communities in the Commonwealth to receive grossly needed funding for housing rehabilitation, infrastructure improvements and public services through the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). As a mini-entitlement community, West Springfield receives a portion of the $26.7 million grant each year. West Springfield was granted $800,000 this year for the rehabilitation of 11 low to moderate-income housing units, housing code enforcement, infrastructure improvements and public services. West Springfield Mayor Edward Gibson told Reminder Publications that receiving this grant each year is "extremely critical" to the maintenance and development of the community. "We would not be able to meet the social service requirements or help [home owners] with housing improvement needs without this money. Over the years it has made a huge difference," he said. Joseph Laplante, director of community development said approximately $400,000 will be used for housing rehabilitation, about $106,000 will be used for sidewalk repairs in the Merrick neighborhood, approximately $47,000 for social services and about $80,000 for a new playscape in the Merrick neighborhood. Laplante noted the importance of this grant each year as a means to make much-needed improvements to the Southeast Target Area, the southeast section of West Springfield. "The southeast corner of town is the oldest section of town with the highest amount of rental property," Laplante said. "About 65 percent [is rental properties] versus about 50-50 [rental properties versus home owners] in other parts of town. This is really where the lower income people can get a foothold in the community." He said the infrastructure in this part of town is the oldest and in greatest need of repair, adding that approximately 50 residences are on the waiting list for housing rehabilitation. This year, the Southwick Board of Selectmen chose to file a joint application with the neighboring town of Granville in order to increase their chances of obtaining funding as these communities have failed to obtain funding separately in recent years. These communities have been allocated $978,300 the full amount requested in their application filed in February for housing rehabilitation, infrastructure improvements and expansion to the Southwick Senior Center. According to Southwick's Chief Administrative Officer, Karl Stinehart, Southwick will use $352,8000 of the grant for infrastructure improvements to Lakemont Street, specifically to add two fire hydrants, eight leaching catch basins, replace an asbestos cement water pipe as well as repave the road; $800,000 will be used for designs for the expansion of the Southwick Senior Center; $115,000 will be used for administrative costs; and $430,500 will be allocated to the rehabilitation of six low- to moderate-income housing units in Southwick and six in Granville. "With the limited resources that municipalities have these needs would go underserved [without this funding]," Stinehart said. He explained that as soon as the official award letter is received and signed the town officials will meet with representatives from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to outline a plan for completing each project. Stinehart added that large-scale projects, such as the improvements to Lakemont Street, should commence by the fall and be completed next year. |