Overview:

NewVue Communities of Fitchburg, overseeing the redevelopment of the former Riverbend and Bigelow schools in Athol into new housing, will receive $325,000 from the state for asbestos and lead removal. The over $32 million renovation and construction project will result in 53 units of housing, including 20 units of senior housing and 33 units for families of varying sizes and incomes. The project is funded through a combination of state and federal tax credits, grants, loans, and $400,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act, provided by Athol. Work is anticipated to be completed mid-way through 2026.

ATHOL – NewVue Communities of Fitchburg, which is overseeing the redevelopment of the former Riverbend and Bigelow schools in Athol into new housing, will receive $325,000 from the state for asbestos removal.

The state’s Executive Office of Economic Development and MassDevelopment has announced that more than $6.5 million in Brownfields Development funds will be distributed for the assessment and cleanup of 20 contaminated sites across the state where redevelopment projects are planned or underway.

James Linfield, real estate project developer for NewVue, explained, “The brownfield money is for existing asbestos that was in the buildings, in the building materials, a lot of the time in tiles. Even if workers have gotten the wrapping off of pipes previously, while there may have been some of that, the tiles are all made with asbestos. The work will also include lead removal.

“It’s all pretty much the handling and removal of asbestos-containing materials. It’s not a big chunk of asbestos; it’s just the asbestos that was blended into everything because it was such a great fire retardant.”

Work continues at the site of the former Riverbend and Bigelow schools in Athol. The project recently received $325,000 from the state for asbestos removal. PHOTO BY GREG VINE

NewVue began the more than $32 million renovation and construction project earlier this year. When finished, the site will have 53 units of housing. In addition to repurposing the two former school buildings – which total more than 44,000 square feet – a new 24,000 square-foot building will be constructed, connecting the two existing structures.

The new building will be home to 20 units of senior housing, as well as community space, while the two former schools will provide 33 units of housing for families of varying sizes and incomes.

The project is funded through a combination of state and federal tax credits, with additional funds coming from grants, loans and $400,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act, provided by Athol. In 2023, Congressman Jim McGovern secured $1 million in federal funding for the project.

The general contractor for the project is Aberthaw Construction Company of Lowell. It’s anticipated that work will be completed mid-way through 2026.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.