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Date: 9/12/2023
EASTHAMPTON — With just over $1 million in Community Development Block Grant funds secured, the city of Easthampton is moving onto the design phase of significant and substantial improvements that will take place in the New City neighborhood over the next decade or so.
“This neighborhood is one of the city’s oldest and most densely-developed residential areas of the city. It has a high concentration of low to moderate-income residents and a significant renter population,” explained Jamie Webb, senior planner. “Due to the age and condition of the infrastructure in this neighborhood, it has long been identified as a high-priority area to invest public money to improve outdated and inefficient underground infrastructure.”
West Boylston Manufacturing Company built the neighborhood’s existing infrastructure in the early 1900s as it built worker housing. Most of the underground infrastructure — such as water and sewer mains — still has the original construction materials which are in poor condition.
After developing a master plan for the neighborhood in 2021, which assessed the condition and needs of the neighborhood, the project is now moving into the design and community input phase.
“This grant funding is for design development which includes the final detailed design of the below-ground infrastructure and the above-ground surface amenities, and the creation of construction drawings, bid specifications, and cost estimates,” said Webb.
Currently, the city is working to hire an engineering firm to do the design development work and hopes to have that completed by the end of the fall. The actual design development work is expected to take 18 to 24 months. During that time, the city will host several community meetings to gather feedback, the first in the spring or summer of next year. The construction will have different phases and will begin no sooner than spring 2025.
“This is really just the beginning of a long process to improve the outdated and inefficient underground infrastructure and streetscapes in order to improve the quality of life for the Easthampton residents that live in New City,” said Webb.
The Planning Department, DPW and the mayor’s office are working in partnership on this grant and project. The Planning Department has already met up with residents to walk the neighborhood and discuss issues and opportunities for the neighborhood.
“This grant is an important piece of our continuing work to lift up all members of the community,” said Mayor Nicole LaChapelle.
The New City neighborhood is located about one mile east of the downtown and is bounded by Parsons Street to the east, Ferry Street to the north, Everett Street to the south, and Lower Mill Pond to the west.