Adams Visitors Center Parking Lot Eyed for Revamp
ADAMS, Mass. — The town is applying for grants to completely revamp the parking lot at the Adams Visitors Center and do design work on the former Hoosac Valley Coal & Grain building.
Community Development Director Donna Cesan said this year's Community Development Block Grant application reflects the strategic plan approved by the Selectmen in 2015 for community and downtown development. The maximum the town can apply for this year is $800,000 and the deadline is March 10. Adams should know by late summer if it is being awarded the money.
The parking lot construction is estimated at $600,625 with another $71,655 in program delivery, which are costs associated in implementing the project including staff salaries.
"This parking facility is in severe need of reconstruction," she told the board on Wednesday. "The pavement is cracking, it's heaving, the trees in the lot are severely overgrown and shield out any lighting that exists there and there are access and drainage issues."
The plans by Waterfield Design Group of Winchester include new pavement of the 58,600 square foot (about a 1.4 acre) lot. Sidewalks would be updated for handicapped accessibility, the stormwater system would be retrofitted and new rain gardens would be added. The island in the middle of the lot would be removed and 23 more parking spots added. There will also be updated lighting and accessories such as benches and trash receptacles.
Cesan anticipated the project going out to bid this fall with final construction wrapping up in spring 2018.
"I think the board would agree that the timing of this project is really ideal," she said. "It's going to work very well with our Massworks project for our track extension and our new train platform. .. we would expect to have the newly constructed parking facility prior to Berkshire Scenic Railway's first full season of operating the Hoosac Valley Service between downtown Adams and downtown North Adams."
The town received the $2.6 million MassWorks grant last fall to restore six-tenths of a mile of track from Renfrew to Hoosac Street, bringing the scenic rail to the new train station across the street from the visitors center.
Cesan acknowledged that some of the events held at the Adams Visitors Center may have to be shifted or modified to accommodate the construction. The three major events — the Steel Rail Marathon, Thunderfest and Ramblefest — take place during the year. Ramblefest, occurring on Columbus Day in October, would likely be affected, she thought.
Erica Girgenti, director of the Council on Aging, said some thought would also have to be given during construction to the city's senior citizens, who use the visitors center on a regular basis. However, she said she was fully in support of the project and had been part of the planning discussions along with other town departments.
"I have seen a lot of challenges that this design will fix," she said, listing issues with lighting, snow accumulation on the island that causes visibility issues, the collection of sand around the island that causes tripping hazards, the confusion over the entrance and traffic direction.
"We see people from all over the world. A lot of thought went into the design for this parking lot."
The lanes will be 24-foot and two-way, rather than the current confusing one-way traffic pattern. The Adams Internists on the south end of the lot was factored in for parking and Cesan said elimination of the island provides for safer pull-through parking — especially for buses that now take up to six parking spaces.
The comments during the public hearing were in favor of the plan from both the board and several residents, although Selectman Arthur "Skip" Harrington questioned why the needs of the Memorial Building were not being considered this round.
Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco said Cesan had actually prepared two grant applications, one of which included the heating and ventilation system for the former middle school. But the special education collaborative being developed by several North County school systems could not give a firm commitment that it would use the building.
"[The Department of Housing and Development] will not approve funding if we don't have something in hand that says we have a use for this building," he said.
Cesan and Mazzucco also explained that the facade program, which the town has used in the past, was being funded at less than $1 million this year.
"When you think about 100 communities applying for funds, it did not seem like a good strategy," Cesan said, noting that some salaries are being paid out of the CDBG funds. The loss of those for a year or more would set back the town's community development program.
The second part of the application asks for $50,000 to develop plans for the former coal and grain property on Cook Street. An engineering firm would be hired to prepare proposed upgrades and develop bid-ready plans and schematics for future construction grant applications. Another $23,145 would go toward program delivery.
"This property presents a key opportunity site," Cesan said, because it is along both the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail and the planned rail tracks. "Berkshire Scenic has expressed an interest in integrating the coal and grain property into their interpretive programs.
"I think upgrading the property would add a lot of value to the surrounding neighborhood."
The property is owned by the town and Cesan said she has been speaking with Eugene Michalenko and the Historical Commission to better understand the historic significance of the building.
Another $54,575 is on the application for general administration for a total of $800,000. Cesan said the line item amount will likely shift some.
The board approved the application unanimously.
Tags: CDBG, parking, visitors center,
