HATFIELD – A prominent area property owner and an investment properties manager have proposed a senior housing project at the former Center School.
Barry L. Roberts of Amherst and partner Donald Southwick of Leverett confirmed Wednesday they submitted their proposal to the town.
Their proposal was the only one submitted, said Town Administrator Marlene Michonski.
She said the Select Board will meet on Wednesday to review the proposal and they expect to decide on the project by Oct. 7, but she added the process may take less time because there is only one applicant.
Sale of the former school must take place by early February 2017, as voted by Town Meeting.
Residents at Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly to convert the vacant building to condominiums for people age 55 and older rather than see it demolished.
Roberts, president of the board for the Amherst Business Improvement District, said he looks forward to “bringing life back to the historic building,” if awarded the project.
The concept is not new to Roberts, who submitted six examples of his work restoring old buildings – five of which were old schools in the area.
As a contractor, he converted the D.A. Sullivan School and Hawley Grammar School in Northampton to market-rate apartments, which were later converted to condominiums, as well as space for the performing arts and commercial and office use.
Also in Northampton, Roberts worked as a partner and contractor to redevelop the Williams Street School as market-rate residential condominiums.
In his submission to Hatfield, he noted the preservation of the old school chalkboard within the residential space of the Williams Street School.
“The ceiling height is similar to proposed interior space of (the) Hatfield project,” according to his submission.
The Converse School in Longmeadow, Crane School in Pittsfield and Myrtle Street School in Indian Orchard are among other successful reuse projects in which Roberts has played a role.
Roberts won an award from the National Association of Home Builders for his contracting work renovating the Bicycle Club Building in Springfield.
“We’ve done this before and we think we can do a good job for the town of Hatfield,” said Roberts of himself, Southwick and Kuhn Riddle Architects of Amherst, who he said would join in the project if they are selected by town officials.
Hatfield Redevelopment Authority Chairman E. Lary Grossman said it is clear that Roberts is a “stellar choice” for the job.
“He’s very well known in the Valley for his work in Amherst, both in residential projects and downtown commercial buildings” said Grossman of Roberts.
In July, Roberts began construction of East Street Commons, a Hadley senior housing project on a 10-acre parcel near the intersection of Route 9 and East Street. Kuhn Riddle Architects also is designing that project.
Area real estate agents and developers have cited a need for housing suited for an aging population, according to Grossman.
The required zoning for that need is less demanding, he said.
“You don’t need three parking spots per residence, so this project fits on the footprint of the existing school without invading the nearby playing fields,” Grossman said.
Roberts, too, believes there’s a market in Hatfield for people who would like to age in place. They could move out of larger homes and into the condos, he said, although those who move in would not necessarily have to come from Hatfield.
“They can walk out the front door, visit Florida, and not have to worry about mowing the lawn or shoveling snow,” said Roberts.
He would like the chance to save the building and put it back on Hatfield’s tax rolls.
“I think it’s a win-win for everybody,” he said.
Sarah Crosby can be reached at scrosby@gazettenet.com.