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Date: 11/23/2022
WESTFIELD – The Westfield Redevelopment Authority (WRA) is changing its plans so it can lower the projected cost of the project to turn a vacant Elm Street lot into a public green space after increases in construction costs had nearly doubled the price.
Community Development Director Peter Miller said that the WRA recently made changes to its original plan to convert the space, after it had gone from a projected cost of around $500,000 to $950,000 due to inflation and the increased cost of materials and labor.
After making changes to the plan to mitigate the cost increase somewhat, Miller said the projected cost is now around $750,000.
“We reduced cost fairly significantly by changing out the stage a bit. Now it is going to be a bit more earthen,” said Miller.
The green space plan, originally touted by Mayor Michael McCabe, is intended to be a temporary solution for the space which would serve a similar role to the Park Square Green nearby, but without requiring as much of a police presence to keep pedestrians and cars safe from each other. Park Square is surrounded on all sides by heavily traveled streets and intersections; the lot being redeveloped by the WRA only touches Elm Street and quieter side streets in the Gaslight District.
Plans call for a green lawn and a performance area opposite the Elm Street sidewalk. Much of the parcel would be taken up by a 94-space parking lot, with access from Church Street.
Miller said the WRA is also going to work to incorporate the Valley Bike grant Westfield is receiving by placing a bike station on the Church Street side of the lot. The redevelopment lot is adjacent to the PVTA bus station on Arnold Street.
The WRA has been trying to find a use for the space for years, but the recent economic stresses and high construction costs have forced a change of plans from a mixed-use residential and commercial building. The space was once occupied by the J.J. Newberry department store, but it has remained vacant since the building burned to the ground in 1986.
Miller and the WRA hope the first public events can take place on the green space by next summer.