ATHOL — Saying they found a “good fit” for the former Pleasant Street School, Selectboard members enthusiastically signed a five-year lease with Alec MacLeod, executive director of LaunchSpace, Inc. this week.
The plan allows the town to retain ownership of the building.
“Having a good caretaker, having it occupied, insured and maintained is good for the town,” said Town Manager Shaun Suhoski, adding, “and could be good for the region.”
The lease, with a rent of $100 per year, allows renewals up to 3 to 5 years years upon mutual agreement. In addition to the rent, the LaunchSpace, Inc. will pay for all routine non-structural maintenance expenses associated with the building, such as heat, electricity, snow removal from the sidewalk and parking area, liability and property damage insurance, rubbish removal, janitorial services, lawn care, water and sewer fees and security expenses for the life of the lease. LaunchSpace also agrees to plow the loop driveway from the access road to ensure emergency vehicle access to the premises. The main floor of the facility, and lavatories will be maintained handicap accessible according to the building/electrical code and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. LaunchSpace will be responsible for public safety inspections including boiler, elevator/lifts and fire safety.
MacLeod said LaunchSpace, a non-profit corporation, is based in the Orange Innovation Center at 131 West Main St. in Orange. The plan at the former Pleasant Street School is to form a “makerspace,” a set of member-based shops, with classes in workforce education and development.
Said MacLeod, “We’re cooperating with Greenfield Community College, Mount Wachusetts Community College, UMass, the Wentworh Institute of Technology and hope to also interact with Worcester Polytechnic Institute, particularly in area of robotics and IT.”
MacLeod said for the third tier of the project, “We’re putting into action entrepreneurial support and business incubation, which are two stages of the same process helping people create businesses, and then ensuing with education, support and business planning they have a strong opportunity to be successful, to hire local people and generally contribute to the regional economy.”
LaunchSpace, a non-profit corporation, occupies the third floor of the former Minute Tapioca building, which is used as an arts room and robotics and IT area.
“There is very strong interest from local schools to participate in that. We also have another large room divided into a metal shop and woodworking shop. What we do not have is classroom space,” MacLeod said. “Use of the Pleasant Street school gives us that opportunity, and we’ve already had discussions from local community colleges about this.”
MacLeod said he will work with the town to complete some capital improvements on the building. The top priority is the heating. “The system is antiquated and expensive,” he said, noting he is currently in discussions with grant opportunities to address that.
Plans include installing solar panels on the roof, making the building more energy efficient in terms of heating and lighting and electrical use, and generally improving it.
“These improvements are good for our use in the sense that we are demonstrating good will, demonstrating what can be done with a property that was built in the 1960s and not up to snuff as far as today’s technology is concerned,” he said, “It’s also good for the town. The town will still retain ownership of the building. We feel that it’s in everybody’s interest for us to generally make things better. That’s why we started this business in the first place.”
The Selectmen immediately signed the lease so a grant could be pursued to address the antiquated heating system.
Selectboard Chairman Stephen Raymond thanked MacLeod for his commitment to the community.
Raymond also thanked the members of the Pleasant Street School Reuse and Disposition Committee, which includes: Selectwoman Rebecca Bialecki, Alan Dodge, Aimee Hanson, Richard Hayden, Eric Jack, Deborah Kuzmeskas, Tracey Mills, Kenneth Vaidulas and Steve Wills.
“We have found a good steward for a property that will bring this space, vacant for many years, back to full use in a way that is compatible with the existing school campuses (Athol Royalston Middle School and Athol Community Elementary School) that sit on that same property in a residential neighborhood. It is a good fit.” said Bialecki, “They have proven themselves to be a good steward of the public trust as far as the programming they plan to bring here. This will be a nice addition to what LaunchSpace has growing in OIC.”