Tenants forced relocation makes room for students

Date: 5/18/2010

May 19, 2010

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WESTFIELD -- City and college officials were all smiles Friday morning during a meeting announcing that Westfield State had finally secured a student-housing complex downtown at Lansdowne Place, 38 Thomas St. However, current tenants forced to relocate are far from pleased.

The state's Division of Capital Asset Management entered into a 10-year lease agreement on behalf of Westfield State College (WSC) with property owner FS Holdings Lansdowne LLC. Mayor Daniel Knapik and WSC President Evan Dobelle called the new 216-bed dormitory a key component to downtown revitalization.

Tatiana Reznicenco, a four-year tenant of Lansdowne Place, told Reminder Publications she didn't agree. "I don't want to leave. I'm upset I have to leave," she added.

When asked what she planned to do, Reznicenco looked at her nine-month-old son, frowned, and replied that she had no choice but to look for a new apartment.

She added that the financial compensation and relocation services provided by the owner of the property, FS Holdings Lansdowne LLC, was not enough to make her want to move.

Gerald Hayes, WSC vice president of administration and finance, explained current tenants would have approximately 15 months to find alternative housing.

The six-story, 48-unit apartment building is 80 percent occupied.

Hayes noted the first of three blocks of students are projected to move in this fall.

"This is a very creative and innovative approach to providing housing at city colleges. It's a win-win for everyone involved," he said.

Hayes added that the downtown dorm would help alleviate overcrowding as 50 percent of incoming classes are housed in forced triples, hotels, motels or offered financial incentives to live at home.

Barry Maloney, WSC vice president of student affairs, noted the cost to live downtown would be comparable to living on campus with a price tag of $6,500 for the academic year.

Students will be under the supervision of an in-house residence hall director and five residence assistants. They will also have use of the Owl Bucks program, already generating $40,000 each month for Westfield businesses.

"Student housing is a missing link in the revitalization of downtown," Knapik said.

City Council President Brian Sullivan called the new dorm a catalyst for "the domino effect," allowing for other downtown projects to come to fruition such as the Intermodal Transportation Center and the Columbia Greenway Bike Trail.

Hayes noted other projects include the proposed Barnes & Noble at a location still to be determined and the 90-bed student-housing complex at 27 Washington St. He explained that the developer of the Washington Street property, owned by the WSC Foundation, is seeking financing for construction.

Hayes said the Barnes & Noble is projected to open downtown in the fall of 2011 the same time students would fully occupy all of Lansdowne Place.