Selectmen reject Fox’s Water Street proposal

By Linda CarmanPrint Story | Email Story
WILLIAMSTOWN – The Selectmen turned down a proposal from developer Charles Fox and his architect, David Westall, to build a combination of shops and apartments at 59 Water St., the site of the old town garage. The board ruled on Monday that the proposal did not meet the project’s specifications. Fox submitted the only proposal for the site, seen as an important focus for Water Street, and he wanted the town to either give him the property or provide other support. Town Manager Peter Fohlin said the town would have had to offer the property to other developers on the same basis. Fohlin said that while Fox should be commended for submitting an interesting building, the proposal should be “withdrawn and rejected,” calling it “a friendly euthanasia.” “He didn’t answer the question. He didn’t give a full proposal,” Fohlin said. “He needed concessions from the town regarding the price of the land.” The Selectmen said they will wait, probably a year, until the Cable Mills conversion of the former Carol Cable building is completed, to issue another request for proposals in hopes that the conversion will spark more interest in development. Selectman Charles Schlesinger noted that Fox proposed to build condominiums rather than apartments, the same choice as Cable Mills. “I’d really like to see apartments in town,” Schlesinger said. Fohlin replied, “If you’re absolutely dead serious about apartments, give the land to the Housing Authority. Landlords don’t really see the demand for apartments. Even the Housing Authority has to break even.” Fohlin said he believes a building’s ownership could be structured to allow businesses to own their quarters while the Housing Authority owned and rented out apartments. Selectmen’s Chairman John Madden said he did not think that approach was the best way to provide affordable housing. Instead, Madden suggested the town opt for land such as the Lowry property off Stratton Road for that purpose. Selectwoman Jane Allen, who was elected chairwoman during the board’s reorganization later in the meeting, thanked Fox and Westall for “giving us a preliminary vision for the site.”
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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