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Published March 17, 2016 in the Rutland Herald
Springfield to seek state planning grant for community center
By SUSAN SMALLHEER
SPRINGFIELD — The town of Springfield plans to apply for a state planning grant that would give a somewhat dilapidated building some attention.
The Springfield Select Board voted unanimously Monday night to apply for a state grant to help them come up with a plan for needed renovations to the town’s Community Center, which has its share of boarded-up windows. The Community Center is the home of the town’s parks and recreation department and senior center, and hosts a variety of activities all day long.
According to the town’s application for a $30,000 grant, the money would be used to develop a plan for rehabilitation of the 123-year-old structure, which at one time was the home of Jones & Lamson Machine Tool Co.
The town wants to replace windows or close off unused windows on the upper levels, which are used for storage, and replace the exterior siding — last done in 1976, according to the grant proposal. The grant request also calls for creating additional zones for the heating system in the building, which has just one thermostat, and to add insulation in areas of the building. The town also wants to improve access to the first floor — and create access to the second floor — for disabled people.
In recent years, the town has funded structural repairs to the building, which sits at the foot of Main Street, including about $100,000 in foundation work and some new interior doors and storm windows to improve energy efficiency.
The plan would come up with cost estimates for increasing the building’s energy efficiency, as well as electrical, plumbing and heating system upgrades, facade improvements and a plan for handicap access.
The building has plenty of history: Jones and Lamson was the seminal manufacturing company for Precision Valley.
J&L, as it is locally known, gave birth to other major machine tool companies such as Fellows Gear Shaper and Bryant Grinder. Only a small spin-off of J&L still exists. The building later became home to the Manufacturer’s Association, a private club for managers at the machine tool companies. That organization gave the building to the town in 1917. The building is listed on the state register of historic places, and is part of the Springfield Downtown Historic District.
The building is open to the public about 14 hours a day, according to Town Manager Tom Yennerell.
The building is actually made up of two structures — a three-story monitor-roofed industrial building and a two-story flat-roofed industrial building, according to the proposal.
A public hearing is slated for April 11 at 7 p.m. in the Selectman’s Hall to discuss the application for the long-range capital improvement plan.
http://www.vermonttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/RH/20160317/NEWS02/160319603
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20160317/NEWS02/160319603
Springfield Family Center (365 Summer Street) is selling as apparently too costly of taxes; why not merge with Springfield Community Center to Springfield Family Center? Less hassles for the taxes and will blend with the Community Center AND Family Center. Plus, very easily to walk at Main Street with exercise! What a great idea for Springfield!
ReplyDeleteif that building wasn't owned by the town,it would be getting torn down
ReplyDeleteI would really like to see access to the second floor. I missed all of my granddaughters basketball games last year (that were held at the Senior Center) because I was denied access to the second floor due to my disability. I guess the Senior Center is just for some seniors, not those of us who cannot climb stairs.
ReplyDeleteKate, you were not "denied" access to the basketball court any more than I was denied access to this spring's Everest assent from Nepal. Face it Kate, no one owes us anything, capisce?
DeleteA noble sentiment, 11:57, right up to the moment you need but can't afford to buy the mobility you had when you were 20... Be sure to get back to me then.
Delete11:57 get real; no elevator denies one access; years ago there was an engineering study done that determined the center is structurally unsound for an elevator; the building is an old dump and should be torn down
Deleteanonymous 11:57. No I guess I don't "capisce". You don't know what my disability is or how it came about. I don't feel that anyone owes me anything, nor do I expect it….except when my tax dollars (and yes, I worked for over 40 years before I became unable to continue work) are supporting that building. I should have the same opportunity as anyone else to attend functions for the whole community. No, that does not include "the spring Everest assent from Nepal". What if I was to tell you that I was a wounded warrior? Would you still say, "no one owes us anything"?
DeleteThis is a public building and not ADA compliant. I am surprised the town hasn't been sued over this - why and how does Springfield get to continue to be non compliant?
DeleteI would tell you I've never heard of a wounded veteran bellyaching about what he couldn't do or what's owed him.
DeleteFace it Kate, you've been brainwashed by the Likes of Bernie that every shortcoming and limitation is someone else's responsibility. I've accepted mine and focus on my strengths as you should too.
12:51, you need to meet an in-law of mine, a whiner and loser if there ever was one. You dispute him on anything, he'll shove his Purple Heart in your face, metaphorically speaking. He use it as a crutch and an excuse for the sorry life he lives. He gives veterans a bad reputation.
DeleteOne thing he doesn't do is lecture people about whether their handicaps deny them access. The other thing he doesn't do is conduct himself so people can be inspired by his quiet example.
We need to get free(taxpayer) money to tell us the building needs to be torn down, something that should have been done fifty years ago... Of course that money, once given, will find its way into someone's pocket for performing an almost non-existent unneeded service. Get rid of these scammers.
ReplyDelete10:40, right on, just like the $60,000 being done to study the parking in front of it. $60,000...give me a break. Might just as well stand on the bridge and toss the money into the river.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at old pictures of Main Street, at one time there was angle parking in lieu of parallel parking. Maybe there was a study done back then on which way to park. While in my opinion they screwed it up cause I can't parallel park! So lets toss $60k into some consultants pocket for them to suggest angle parking! Such a deal...
ReplyDeleteThe money spent last year to "shore it up" was a total waste of taxpayer money. Now we have look forward to more?
ReplyDeleteAs Margaret Thatcher said many years ago...... "Socialism is great, until you run out of other people's money".
ReplyDeleteShe of course spoke for the greediest.
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