ATHOL – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-Worcester) has delivered a Christmas gift to the town of Athol in the form of $1 million to help fund the transformation of the former Bigelow and Riverbend schools into senior and mixed income housing.
The money was part of some $18 million McGovern had secured for a variety of projects in central and western Massachusetts, as mentioned in a press release sent on Dec. 23. It was included in the $1.7 trillion omnibus federal spending bill approved earlier that day by the House of Representatives.
McGovern said he decided to push for funding for the Athol project after speaking to local officials and constituents likely to benefit from expanded housing opportunities.
“We talked to town leaders and we talked to the non-profit that wants to construct these new units, but I’ve also had many conversations with grandfamilies all throughout the region and all throughout Massachusetts, quite frankly, and one of the things I’ve been learning is there are a lot of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren,” McGovern told the Athol Daily News. “Often times, these grandparents are living in senior housing that don’t allow for people below a certain age to be there, which poses a dilemma. So, how do they do it? Well, they have to move out, go someplace and try to find affordable housing that allows them to keep their families together.”
McGovern said many of the 53 units currently planned for the site of the former schools will help to meet that need. He added that the region has a housing shortage, and the needs are complex.
“These new units will accommodate people of all ages; to allow grandparents who want to raise their grandchildren, give them opportunities to have access to good, affordable housing,” McGovern said. “It will also provide for seniors who are just looking for housing units, as well as people of various ages.”
Town Manager Shaun Suhoski said he was both happy and relieved to hear the earmark for Bigelow-Riverbend had made it through the budget process.
“With all the hijinks with the change in the House from Democrat to Republican control, and a group of the newly elected right-wingers looking to maybe hold over the budget to the next congress, we have been watching very carefully,” he said. “Remember, this budget was supposed to take effect three months ago. We’re just so thankful that Congressman McGovern sponsored this as one of his projects. This is the type of project that can make a difference at a large scale in a smaller town in the North Quabbin region, just giving a jolt to our affordable housing stock.
Suhoski said that renovating two of the most iconic school buildings and then create a connecting building with new construction with 20 units for seniors for this inter-generational facility will breath life into that whole neighborhood and provide some housing hope that is desperately needed in the region. Suhoski also lauded McGovern, who is from Worcester, for paying close attention to the wants and needs of North Quabbin.
The town manager added that the timing of the announcement was propitious.
“Whether you want to call it an early Christmas present of not, it’s so timely,” he said. “We’ve known for a while this is a good proposal and would get done once the funding is lined up. The timing where it’s going into the funding round at the state level in January is ideal – it’s really going to give it a boost.”
The million dollars secured by McGovern will go to Fitchburg-based NewVue Communities, the non-profit organization overseeing the development and its financing. The overall cost of the project is currently pegged at $28 million. Receipt of the million dollars will assist in securing other funds for the effort, according to Suhoski.
“These funds are essential. That million, and the $400,000 that the Board of Selectmen allocated in federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding, closes that gap in financing. There was a about a $2 million gap that we had to make up,” Suhoski said. “We’re a good deal of the way there. And the through this funding round, we’re going to go the (state) Dept. of Housing and Community Development. We’ve engaged and had great support from Sen. Comerford and Rep. Whipps to close that remaining gap. So, I think we’re in great shape.”
Suhoski added that when the project is completed, the properties will go back on the town’s tax rolls, generating income for the municipality. The former schools are owned by the town, which has to pay for maintenance and upkeep.
“It’s just a win for everybody involved,” Suhoski concluded.
Other nearby projects for which McGovern secured funding include $975,000 for the Avenue A Streetscape Improvement Project in Turners Falls, and $450,000 for technology for first responders in Franklin County.
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.