Westfield already has $7 million in federal and state funding earmarked for downtown redevelopment.
WESTFIELD — The latest concept envisioned for downtown redevelopment calls for a six-story commercial-retail-residential building, a 500-vehicle parking garage and a single-story glass-enclosed Pioneer Valley Transit Authority bus shelter.
The new plan, which replaces two others dating back to at least 1986, was unveiled to the public Wednesday night at South Middle School. The meeting was attended by about 100 local residents, business owners and other stakeholders in the downtown area.
The cost of the plan, still being refined, is estimated at between $20 million and $30 million, involving private investment in the multi-use building and state, federal and local funding for the parking garage and bus stop. The city already has $7 million in federal and state funding earmarked for downtown redevelopment.
The latest concept is an ongoing design being created under a $400,000 study launched earlier this year under by the city, PVTA and HDR Architecture Inc. of Boston. This study is funded with state and federal resources under the state Department of Transportation.
Chamber of Commerce director Kate E. Phelon and Westfield Business Improvement District director Maureen L. Belliveau called the concept “promising.”
“I’m excited. This is a dynamic concept for our downtown. It will be beautiful, a pedestrian paradise,” said Belliveau.
Phelon offered “This is more that I expected. It is absolutely encouraging and the Chamber is excited to be part of this in its early stages.”
But former Mayor Michael E. O’Connell questioned the size of the commercial-retail building. “I think it will be difficult to find a developer for the structure. I am overwhelmed by the size. I don’t know if there is a supply and demand balance here.”
Also supporting the prospect was Friends of the Columbia Greenway Trail president Jeffrey J. LaValley, who likes dual use of the bus shelter for users of the bike trail through the downtown. The project location sits one block west of where the bicycle and hiking trail will pass through the city’s downtown in about two years.
“I love it. This is very promising,” LaValley said.
The project, titled Elm Street Intermodal Center, will be located between Arnold, Church, Summer and Elm streets. The area includes the long-vacant lot which housed J.J. Newbury's Department Store until it burned to the ground in 1986.
The project replaces previous concepts such as the Elm Street Commons approach in the 1980s and a hotel and intermodal center in supported from the 1990s through 2007. That is when local developer John E. Reed, owner of Mestek Inc., withdrew his $12 million support for a hotel at the site.
PVTA administrator Mary I. MacIness told the audience Wednesday “PVTA is involved to assist the city in redevelopment of the downtown.”
She said PVTA plans to continue its two existing bus routes to Westfield along with a para-transit service for seniors and people with mobility issues. She indicated a fixed route service may be added and all will be served by the pavilion shelter.
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik predicted the bike trail will produce hundreds of thousands of bike trips annually through the downtown, making the Greenway Trail an “important part of this project.
“This concept is our latest effort associated with Elm Street, and it has the promise to link with professional services, executive office space, restaurants, public transit and a vast variety of new business,” Knapik said.
City Advancement Officer Jeffrey R. Daley called it a “catalyst for the future of Westfield bringing new shop owners, restaurants, services and transportation.”
But Daley also characterized the plan as “just a development plan that will guide us toward an urban renewal plan.”
HDR planner Abnik Jhaveri said the concept will support a bookstore, coffee shops and outside dining along with other retail, commercial and residential uses.
Daley said some potential tenants may include the Westfield Police Department’s Detective Bureau and Westfield State University.