Athol lands $1.3M grant for Canal/Lumber streets

By GREG VINE

For the Athol Daily News

Published: 08-27-2023 5:00 PM

ATHOL – Back in February, Planning and Development Director Eric Smith applied for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to fund ongoing improvements to neighborhoods abutting Main Street west of Exchange Street.

Last Friday, Town Manager Shaun Suhoski joined Gardner Mayor Mike Nicholson and other local officials at an event where Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Edward Augustus Jr. announced the award of nearly $65 million in CDBG funding to communities across the state.

Included in that amount is just over $1.3 million for infrastructure improvements for Canal and Lumber streets.

“As a former mayor, I know firsthand how grants like this play a critical role in giving our towns and cities the resources they need to make a real impact on the lives of Massachusetts residents,” saidDriscoll in a statement. “We know how important it is to invest in our communities, and these CDBGs open doors to opportunities for growth and revitalization across the state. We’re so excited to see all the awardees use these funds to improve their communities.”

At the February meeting, Andrew Loew, of the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC), told the Selectboard that the grant would fund work along 755 feet of Lumber Street, as well as 700 feet of Canal Street south of Main Street and near several abutting intersections. The grant will be administered by the CMRPC, for which they will be paid approximately $122,000.

Loew explained that improvements will be made to roadways, sidewalks, water mains, the sewer system and stormwater drainage. If there is adequate funding, lighting could also be upgraded. The project is estimated at $1.23 million, though this could change as designs are finalized.

On Friday, Suhoski said that the work on Lumber and Canal streets is a continuation of an effort that began approximately six years ago. At that time, the town had turned its focus on using CDBG for the downtown district. Since then, utilizing these grants, they have re-done Marble Street from the library to the police station, along with Church and Walnut streets.

“We partnered that up with Complete Streets grants,” said Suhoski. “So, as we were doing Walnut Street with CDBG funds we were able to do the sidewalks that tie in all around Fish Park. With the last phase of CDBG, we finished Walnut Street, and turned the corner to Canal Street, which is where the Millers River Environmental Center is.

“So, really, this is an extension of that work all along and through the downtown. That will come onto the south side of Main Street, continue on Canal Street, Lumber Street – which has long been ignored – and hopefully we’re going to find a way to unlock a thoughtful development of the town-owned parcel at 62 Canal St.”

Suhoski explained that that parcel once housed a toy factory which burned down 15 years ago. He said the town also hopes to find a way to utilize a privately-owned parcel that could connect the former factory site to the banks of the Millers River.

“If we can make all the stars align,” he said, “we could do a really good job with the infrastructure through there – Lumber, Canal, and we want to get to South Street – those neighborhoods can use a freshener on their infrastructure. This CDBG funding is a great boost for those efforts.”

Suhoski pointed out that, instead of auctioning off the parcel at 62 Canal St., the town partnered with the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which undertook a hazardous materials remediation project on the site. Assessments have been done and Suhoski said the location could be utilized as a riverfront park or as the site of a few elderly housing units.

“It really could be something special,” he said.

In addition to potentially providing access to the Millers River, Suhoski said the project could also provide connectivity to the improvements for Lord Pond Plaza, which are currently in the planning stages.

Reach Greg Vine at gvineadn@gmail.com.

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