A public hearing on downtown redevelopment will be held Dec. 12 at South Middle School.
Demolition work on the Block building at the corner of Elm and Arnold Street in Westfield, shown here last month, has been completed.
WESTFIELD – The city plans to review existing, outdated, redevelopment plans in a effort to bring them in line with new ideas and plans for the downtown.
The City Council authorized the review Thursday night, including the expenditure of up to $50,000 for the project. The city will be reimbursed the cost of the review under state and federal funding already available for downtown improvements.
“We haven’t taken a good look at the plan, created about 18 years ago, is several years. This review will allow us to calibrate that plan and bring it in line with what we are looking at now,” Mayor Daniel M. Knapik said Friday.
The review is scheduled for completion in January and City Advancement Officer Jeffrey R. Daley told the City Council a public hearing on it will be scheduled for Dec. 12 at South Middle School to hear concerns and suggestions from residents and business owners.
Jeffrey R. Daley
The revised plan will then be presented to the council and state agencies including the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority for approval.
The recently revived Westfield Redevelopment Authority will then use the plan to proceed with several projects including the development of Elm and Arnold streets and possible construction of a mixed-use building involving retail, office and residential space and a proposed parking deck or garage.
The former redevelopment package called for creation of a hotel and intermodal center on Elm Street in the area of Church Street Commons.
But, in 2007, local developer John E. Reed, owner of Mestek Inc. on North Elm Street, withdrew a planned $12 million investment in the hotel project.
Earlier this year, Westfield and PVTA launched a new study of the downtown that when completed will serve as template for new efforts downtown. The new plan is expected to include a form of bus terminal in a building that could also house an element of Westfield State University along with retail and commercial use.