NORTHAMPTON — Infrastructure associated with two developments that will bring affordable and market-rate housing to Easthampton and Northampton, and sewer and drainage improvements for a Belchertown mobile park, are among Hampshire County projects being supported through Community One Stop for Growth grant funding.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration Thursday announced the grants for 26 projects totaling $14.8 million countywide.
The largest, at $4.9 million and through the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, will help Easthampton replace water and sewer infrastructure along Northampton Street. The work aims to advance the project known as Sierra Vista Commons at the former Tasty Top site, which plans to eventually support 202 new housing units, including 54 affordable units, and mixed-use economic development.
Easthampton Mayor Salem Derby said in a statement that the benefits of the state money mean work can be done without impacting residents.
“Water and sewer lines don’t make headlines until they fail,” Derby said. “This $4.9 million MassWorks investment lets Easthampton replace aging infrastructure along Northampton Street and open our Highway Business District to new housing and business growth without putting that cost on the backs of our ratepayers.”
Easthampton is also getting $185,000 for wayfinding in downtown and $118,800 for a housing production plan.
Northampton is getting $2.8 million for water and sewer replacement and various other infrastructure work for the development of 33 King St., where 91 affordable and mixed- income apartments and commercial space will be built at the former Registry of Deeds building. That development is being handled by co-developers Valley Community Development and The Community Builders.
In addition, Northampton is getting $50,000 for the vacant storefront program and $40,000 for technical assistance to create a Business Improvement District, an entity that last existed 12 years ago.
Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra thanked the Downtown Northampton Association and its volunteers for taking the initiative to move this forward.
“When Northampton’s BID dissolved in 2014, it felt inevitable that Northampton would need to revive that conversation to ensure our downtown businesses have the reliable support they need for events, beautification, promotion and advocacy,” Sciarra said.
Belchertown
Belchertown received a total of $2.3 million for five different infrastructure and economic development projects. Sportshaven Mobile Home Park water system was awarded a $1.35 million grant to replace the current septic system. The 39 mobile home units at 370 Mill Valley Road have been under boil orders going back years due to a failing sewer system and unsafe drinking water.
The new well, water tank, pipes and roadway has already been finished with previous state awards, but the wastewater system still needs to be addressed. Pioneer Valley Planning Commission estimates the total project cost at close to $5 million, with the latest grant bringing the total project funding to $3.8 million.
“These grants will make a real difference, not only for the people who call Belchertown home today, but for the visitors who come to enjoy our town, the families considering making it their home, and the businesses looking for a place to put down roots,” Belchetrown Town Manager Steve Williams said. “Support like this helps us build a stronger, more welcoming Belchertown, and we’re grateful to have partners at the state level who share that vision.”
The other state awards to Belchertown will boost the town’s cultural and redevelopment appeal. A $240,000 award to install a water and sewer system at 6 and 8 Berkshire Ave. will help prepare the building’s future redevelopment as a mixed-use property. The ongoing Wayfinding project to direct visitors towards town sites received $95,000 for 32 signs, and the Belchertown Cultural District got $50,000 for professional planning services. And a $35,000 grant for road safety will purchase two new speed boards and pay for patrol officer hours to enforce speed limits, seatbelt use and unsafe driving.
Smaller towns
In Hadley, where two drinking water storage tanks are being replaced, $400,000 from the Rural Development Fund will go toward this project, which will eventually benefit future housing production and economic development along the Route 9 corridor, including possible redevelopment of existing shopping centers, with another $60,000 going toward a regional planning initiative.
Westhampton is getting $292,000 for engineering and permitting associated with road work on Laurel Hill Road, Southampton is receiving $200,000 to assist with more planning for its mixed-use neighborhood at the vacant 52-acre 0 College Highway property and Hatfield is being provided $135,000 for an economic development plan.
Hilltown communities are receiving funding, too, mostly for road projects.
Huntington is receiving $1 million for 4,000 feet of improvements on Littleville Road, another $318,500 for drainage and culvert work on other streets and $150,000 for developing its master plan.
Plainfield’s $1 million grant will go toward repaving two miles of Route 116, while Goshen is getting $274,000 for rehabilitating 1.2 miles of Shaw Road, as well as $100,000 for building an outdoor community space at Village Center Park. Cummington is receiving $75,000 for reviewing and revising the town’s general bylaw.
Two southern Franklin County towns also received funding.
Leverett is getting $1 million for the next phase of improvements to Dudleyville Road, a gravel road that connects the Moore’s Corner section of town to Shutesbury, while $75,000 will go toward its Town Center Improvement Plan. In Deerfield, $100,000 will be used for the design and implementation of having the South Deerfield Wastewater Treatment Plant become a regional septage receiving site.
Holyoke
Finally, in Holyoke in Hampden County, $1.64 million is coming for various projects, with the largest amounts being $500,000 to help redevelop underutilized properties on High Street into a health and workforce corridor and $400,000 to promote housing on two blocks of Newton Street, another underutilized section of the city’s urban renewal area.
There are also smaller awards, such as $55,237 that will go toward construction of an ice cream parlor inside Old San Juan Bakery, a woman-owned business established in 1997.
Mayor Joshua Garcia said in a statement the awards will mean progress that city residents will be able to see and feel.
“These awards are another important step in advancing our economic development objectives downtown, creating the conditions for new investment, new businesses, while supporting existing businesses, new housing and more activity in the heart of our community,” Garcia said.
