DPW, aka "The Barn," has a plethora of equipment
The $75,000 Department of Public Works building consultant is expected to be finalized in the next two weeks. They will give recommendations about departmental operations and how that would impact the new building and where it should be located.
Should for instance the Parks Department, now located at the War Memorial Pool be brought into the fold, or should other internal departments now housed at "The Barn" be spun off into smaller satellite locations?
The report is expected to take only two or three months.
Absorbing DPW Parks Department (top center) into new building would free up space for recreation at War Memorial Park
Best news coinciding with this $20 million project is the proposed reuse of the current DPW property (after demolishing the building): A new South Fire Station, also preliminary pegged at $20 million.
Both of these town projects are trying to keep up with the other two building projects now on the fast track: The Wildwood Elementary School project and the Jones Library expansion/renovation.
Giant row of 50' arborvitae would be clear cut to make entrance for new Fire Station
17 comments:
That's too many projects all at once. Combined, the cost will be astronomical.
Well the school and library projects are eligible for state grant reimbursement.
The proposed $40 million total for DPW and Fire Station are not, but would probably be funded via a debt exclusion.
I use the library weekly, and I just don't see a justification for expanding. I guess there is a report somewhere that includes information that justifies it (including surveys of users).
Waste of taxpayer's money. You yourself have said over and over that the primary "customer" of the FD are UMass drunks and druggies.
Actually I've never said that.
How can DPW get a permit to demolish their current structure which still has the trolley tracks in it [according to Mr. Mooring] from its days as a trolley barn--a brick one at that. This is an especially important structure that Walter's trolley barn has been demolished and UMass destroyed the student-designed trolley stop on North Pleasant St.
We will not vote for money for Jones library unless we get much more convincing evidence that reconfiguring the present space is not feasible. If the lower level is not "safe" for human use, then it can be secure and air/humidity controlled space for both the Jones Special collections and the Strong collections to be stored.
The Grinch from North Amherst.
Yeah, I kinda thought you might say that.
Shall we discuss the missing/stolen banners from downtown Amherst.
A great souvenir for graduating seniors- they shouldn't have been hung up until June.
I'm in love with my sisters boyfriend. Can we discuss that, too?
That actually sounds more interesting.
I believe the FD wants the D.P.W. property for their new fire station.
It is the perfect location (and they will have great neighbors).
Tell consultant that Guilford can take auction barn by friendly eminant domain and be closer to ruxton pit and pine street dump/enlarging hole lot
em·i·nent
ˈemənənt/Submit
adjective
(of a person) famous and respected within a particular sphere or profession.
"one of the world's most eminent statisticians"
synonyms: illustrious, distinguished, renowned, esteemed, preeminent, notable, noteworthy, great, prestigious, important, influential, affluential, outstanding, noted, of note; More
antonyms: unknown
used to emphasize the presence of a positive quality.
"the guitar's eminent suitability for recording studio work"
synonyms: obvious, clear, conspicuous, marked, singular, signal; More
Origin
late Middle English: from Latin eminent- ‘jutting, projecting,’ from the verb eminere .
Translate eminent to
Use over time for: eminent
I am glad there is enough money and wealth in town (state) to do all this stuff and take care of the desperate.
Even better that we can get people from out of the area to pay for some of it via state grants. That's free money with someone else paying the consequence, so cool. I am honored they feel that Amherst is a better place to invest as opposed to even their own community. This is quite a noble sacrifice, even at the bequest of the state.
Thanks for pushing for all these local investments Larry, the town needs these resources...and will surely utilize the funds better than the taxpayers could have themselves.
Sarcasm required its own special font.
I find it interesting when I cheer what is happening, that it is treated as sarcastic.
It was sarcastic, but also generally reflects the attitudes in the community. Free money from the state, the town knows what to do with your money better than you do, we NEED these buildings or the town will surely degrade, we are confident the town has a plan to deal with real money needs and emergencies.
Makes me think back to all the investments MA towns made in FD, PD, DPW buildings back from c. 2000-2007 and then by 2009 some of the same towns were converting/selling these structures, turning off traffic lights, firing the staff in the buildings and hiring masons to repair the recently cured joints in their overly fancy buildings because they were already failing....but when you drove by, boy did these towns look quaint.
What is the economic forecast for the next 10 years for tax revenue and what is the town doing to make sure they can keep staffing up (as you point out this is lacking in a number of departments)? Sure we can spend other peoples' money today, but will they be doing as well in the near or distant future so we can continue to tax them and maintain the town's "lifestyle"?
And where's that special font?
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