 |
The Town of Greenfield submitted an application under the MassWorks Infrastructure Program of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development for funding to complete a parking structure that will serve downtown Greenfield. The proposed parking structure will be located across the street from the new Franklin Regional Transit Center currently under construction, and within one block of the Franklin County Courthouse and several properties that have been or are being redeveloped in downtown Greenfield. The Town will utilize an existing surface municipal
parking lot and the former Hapco Property (11 Olive Street) acquired by the Greenfield Redevelopment Authority in 2009. These parcels are bounded by Olive Street and Bank Row.
The Patrick-Murray Administration approved 23 new MassWorks Infrastructure Program grants to advance local development projects across the state on November 14th. During this funding round, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) received 158 applications totaling over $400 million in funding requests. Greenfield was not selected for a grant in this round. The next MassWorks Infrastructure Program Grant Round will be held in September 2012 at which time Greenfield will reapply with a smaller proposal. Please click on the following link for a listing of those communities awarded a grant in this round: http://www.newenglandpost.com/2011/11/14/patrick-murray-administration-approves-23-massworks-infrastructure-program-projects-support-job-creation/
Several development projects in the downtown necessitate new parking. The Franklin Regional Transit Center (FRTC) will be a hub for bus service in Franklin County, will serve as offices for the employees of the Franklin Regional Transit Authority and Franklin Regional Council of Governments (approximately 50 employees in total), and will serve as the passenger rail stop for Franklin County once a $70 million ARRA project is complete. Per Federal Transit Administration rules, parking at the FRTC is limited to a small number of parking spaces intended for transit users only.
The Franklin County Courthouse is slated to complete $60 million overhaul with construction expected to start in the Spring of 2012. The current redesign of the Courthouse adds several thousand square feet to the building. To retain the historic integrity of the building, the expansion will extend out, instead of up, and will take most employee parking resulting in a reduction of approximately 60-70 spaces.
Additionally, with historic and new market tax credits, ten buildings in the Bank Row Urban Renewal Area (BRURA) in downtown Greenfield are in the process of being or have been recently redeveloped with a mix of commercial, civic, and residential uses, further increasing the need for parking in this area.
Work Completed:
To date the Town of Greenfield and/or the Franklin Regional Council of Governments have completed the following work:
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for 11 Olive Street (former Hapco property). This is one of the primary parcels identified as the location for the parking structure. Completed in December 2008 by Tighe & Bond through the FRCOG Regional Brownfield Program sponsored by the EPA.
- Phase II Environmental Site Assessment for 11 Olive Street Property (former Hapco property). Completed in April 2009 by Tighe & Bond through the FRCOG Regional Brownfield Program sponsored by the EPA
- Preliminary Geotechnical Engineering Recommendations for the Proposed Parking Garage. Completed in March 2009 by O’Reilly, Talbot & Okun Associates.
- Parking and Circulation Analysis of Future Conditions. Completed in May 2002 by Vanesse Hangen and Brustlin, Inc.
- Parking Analysis for Bank Row URA; Downtown Greenfield. Completed in September 2008 by Concord Square Planning & Development.
- Update to the 2008 Parking Study for Downtown Greenfield. Completed in April 2010 by Concord Square Planning & Development.
- Preliminary Schematic Design Report for the Bank Row Parking Garage, Greenfield, MA. Completed in July 2010 by Desman Associates.
| |
