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Date: 3/30/2022
SPRINGFIELD – The City Council approved an additional $6.5 million to the developers of the 31 Elm St. rehabilitation project at a meeting conducted on March 25.
Only two councilors – Justin Hurst and Tracye Whitfield - voted against the allocation of city funds, which were needed to cover the increases in cost of construction.
The 31 Elm St. project will rehabilitate the historic Court Square building and create 74 apartments. The project is being developed by WinnDevelopment and OPAL a, real estate company owned by Peter Picknelly.
As announced last summer, the project will be building 74 apartments in the building with 59 of them market rate and 15 workforce housing. The ground floor will be used for retail space and a restaurant.
Media reports indicated the long-in-development project would stop unless the new funds were in place.
Both Hurst and Whitfield expressed concerns about how the need for the funding was communicated. Hurst said he felt “misled” about the funding.
Hurst noted the city had already contributed $4 million to the private enterprise.
Councilor Kateri Walsh, who did vote for the allocation, noted the council was notified two weeks ago about the need for additional funds. She asserted city officials knew in January of the need for more funds but made the vote an emergency.
“It’s an insult to the City Council,” Walsh said.
Councilor Malo Brown noted, “When it comes to this particular project, we have no choice.”
City Council President Marcus Williams said how the request was handled “shows a lack of respect and courtesy.”
Colton Andrews, the president of the Pioneer Valley Building Trades Union, released the following statement:
“On behalf of the Pioneer Valley Building Trades Unions, I would like to commend and say thank you to the Springfield City Council for their leadership and commitment to this historic project at 31 Elm St. This vote today was not only the final puzzle piece to a complex and long process but serves as a reassurance that Springfield is committed to working in collaboration with private developers and Building Trades Unions to help grow and expand the great city of Springfield. I would also like to thank Mayor Sarno and his staff, Opal/Winn Development and Fontaine Bros. for their steadfast and longstanding commitment to this crucial project. Now it’s time to get to work and provide Springfield residents with opportunities and access to good paying union jobs and a pathway to the middle class. We look forward to working with our partners in the community to ensure that the people of this city have an opportunity to be a part of this historic project and be able to tell their kids and grandkids that they were a part of the revitalization is Springfield.”