ATHOL — About a dozen residents attended a meeting of Athol’s Downtown Revitalization Committee to learn about a proposed apartment building to be built on the site of the current downtown parking garage, and also provide space for commercial operations.
Fitchburg developer K. William Krikorian was on hand to provide details of the proposal and answer questions from committee members and the public.
“I’m quite excited about the project,” Krikorian said at the Dec. 13 meeting. “I’ve had various meetings with town officials, and we’ve put together a great proposal. What we’re proposing is we’re going to build 48 units, which are going to be one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. There’s a mix that has to be met that’s established by Mass Housing and Community Development.”
Athol Planning and Development Director Eric Smith pointed out that 75% of units will be classified affordable housing, with 25% renting for market rate. Krikorian discussed the fate of the parking deck, which has been closed due to safety concerns. He said the garage has been idle for years due to safety concerns and is in dire need of repairs. The plan is to maintain the existing facility and build the five-story development atop it.
“The first level is going to be a combination of residential and commercial,” he said. “So, there will be about 2,500 or 3,000 square feet of commercial space on the first floor. There will be a couple of community rooms and some storage lockers for the tenants. Above that level, we’ll have four levels of residential apartments.”
Kirkorian said the lower level of the parking garage, which includes about two dozen parking spaces, will be maintained. Additional spaces will be provided in the area which has served as the municipal parking lot, and is included in the purchase and sale agreement signed by Krikorian and Athol’s Economic Development and Industrial Corporation. The developer said he wants the building to be as environmentally friendly as possible, noting that solar panels will be constructed on the roof, while “the heating system, I believe, is going to be geothermal.”
In response to a question from DVC Member Steve Wills, Krikorian explained that while the lower deck of the parking garage will be kept intact, it will not be accessible to the public. Spaces in the structure will be reserved solely for tenants who pay a premium to park there and will be given automatic door openers to gain entry. He added that electric car charges would be installed in the garage, but did not have confirmed details on how many would be provided.
“Do you manage the properties you build?” asked Athol resident Kate Dargan. “Are you the company that manages the property?”
Krikorian replied that he is not the property manager and that decision hasn’t been made yet. Once the development is completed, a property manager will come in to screen tenants and maintain the site.
Herb Wheeler, who owns property downtown and once owned and operated Flowerland, said that development takes the community into consideration.
“I agree 100 percent,” said Krikorian. “What this project is going to do, in my opinion, for the town of Athol, is it’s going to bring 100 people, approximately, into the immediate downtown area who are going to be able to walk around, spend money, and help the general business area and the people who are trying to make a go of it downtown. There’s no downside to this. It’s a win-win for everybody.”
Diane DiPietro, current owner of Flowerland/Tintagels Gate, said she was concerned about the amount of general downtown parking that will be lost once Kerkorian takes ownership of the town-owned portion of the downtown parking area.
“As a downtown business owner,” she said, “I’m about to lose a bunch of parking. We have our downtown festivals and our downtown Fourth Fridays; there is no place for these people to go. In the short term, while you’re developing that, do we still have access to that parking lot or, when you buy it, does that mean we can’t use it any longer?”
Krikorian explained a staging area will be needed while construction is underway, meaning the parking area may be needed for that purpose. DVC Chair Mary Holtorf responded by telling the developer there is another municipal lot on the other side of Exchange Street that has been used as a staging area in the past. Krikorian said the public would likely be able to use those spaces currently lying within the boundaries of the municipal lot during daylight hours when his tenants will probably be away at work.
“I don’t see, in the daytime, why somebody couldn’t use those spaces. I really don’t see why that would be a problem,” he said. “Are we going to put up a barrier around it and have one of those arms that goes up and down? No.”
In closing, Krikorian said he believes the development, which it’s estimated will cost between $12 million and $15 million, will serve as an engine for revitalizing downtown Athol.
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.