Local environmental activist Kelly Stetttner was left suitably impressed by her recent guided tour through Park Street School.
What's a building? A building is brick and wood, glass and steel. It's also opportunity. A space for commerce, education, housing, activities of all kinds. Park Street School is rich with opportunity! I recently had the pleasure of a guided tour through most of the building, and was thoroughly impressed with the overall condition of the structure, the architectural details, the depth and breadth of sheer possibilities that filled every vacant classroom and dusty storage closet. Amidst the hushed exclamations of "wow!" and "look at THIS," ideas bubbled to the surface and bounced around us as we moved from room to room. We roved grand staircases, ran fingers over marble walls, marveled at antique wooden display cases filled with an exhaustive rock collection and sea shells of all shapes and sizes. Surprises hid around every corner, it seemed, like the greenhouse jutting out from one classroom on the top floor. A gymnasium that can seat hundreds of spectators in balcony-style seating. An auditorium with an orchestra pit hidden under the floor. A series of workshops in the cool basement, with arch-style doorways reminiscent of a wine cellar.
What can be done with this amazing building? Tour-goers imagined a wide variety of options: A performing arts center, a la "Fame," maybe with a bandstand out back for the Community Band. Residential housing (perhaps dormitory-style) for medical professionals in training. Post-secondary educational classrooms. A brewery and restaurant. A small business or non-profit incubator. Special education offices. A conference venue. Studios and apartments for artists. A gallery & museum with work-space. Senior housing and activity center. An indoor "park," complete with bike loop. A winter farmer's market or indoor flea market. Retail shops, professional offices, and much more. The municipal offices could be relocated here, to complement the school administrative offices that are already housed here. The local community could easily benefit, if the Gateway program was hosted at Park St, along with the continuation of the after school program and the Parks & Rec activities. Whatever is done with Park Street School, it must not be allowed to slip into oblivion as just another "cold storage" shell in Springfield, a haven for vandals. Think of The Colony Mill Marketplace in Keene NH and of the new town office building in Windsor VT (it used to be their old high school).
Yes, work needs to be done: The boiler will need to be replaced, and the plumbing and electric systems will need to be evaluated and possibly brought up to code. The fire sprinklers will need to be exposed where they are hidden under dropped ceiling panels. These are no reason to "kill" the building. Funding must be found, interested developers may pitch in...perhaps a collaborative effort can be built around this. Grants can be applied for, private contributions sought. Occupants for the building must be attached to a revenue stream, be it a grant or rent or another financial resource.
I remember hearing and reading that the building is "unsafe" and "should be condemned." I saw none of that on our tour, not even a whisper of danger. Sure, the floorboards creak. Wouldn't you, after a hundred years? A volunteer army can and should be raised to do some of the safer manual labor (cleaning, painting, washing windows, clearing out storage rooms, etc.) and local contractors should be allowed to bid on the big stuff. This does NOT have to be a burden for the taxpayers! For those who complain about the "blighted face of Springfield," get involved with this and help your community do something positive that can spur economic growth in town. Be part of the solution, step out from the chorus of negativism.
Come see for yourself! A second tour will be conducted on Alumni Day, June 16th at 2 pm. It shouldn't take more than a couple of hours, so you'll have plenty of time to get there after the parade and awards and make it back to Riverside Middle School in time for the girls soccer game at 4:30. Want more information or to join the conversation? Look up "Park Street Reuse" on Facebook.
-Article and photos by Kelly Stettner
Great article! The public needs to speak out in favor or saving this grand building!
ReplyDeleteA fluff piece if ever I read one. Another "visionary" who ironically remains stuck romanticizing the past and denying the realities of the present. With "activists" such as these, incapable of relinquishing the things of the past and embracing modernization from the ground up, Springfield continues to be destined to become like the old ghost towns of the west - without the tumbleweeds, of course!
ReplyDeleteDead on. Every community in the rust belt has an old, decaying, abandoned, brick building. Springfield has nothing a 1000 other towns aren't stuck with.
DeleteStart reinventing Springfield by removing the liabilities and making room for modern, energy efficient, new homes, and businesses. Homes and business that enhance the tax rolls, not drain them. This building is a dinosaur of little architectural of historical significance. Any consideration to attempt heating and repairs is ludicrous.
Oh, if any of you simple-minded do-gooders recall, this property has little or no parking. Thus making a commercial enterprise there unfeasible.
Anonymous 10:30, you are dead wrong, this property has considerable parking both behind the building and in the parking lot right beside it. It is one of the sounder school buildings in the system. The primary problem is bringing it up to Fire and Safety Codes.
DeleteThe public unfortunately believed the negative propaganda about the Park St. School that circulated when the Springfield School District sought the approval of funding for renovations to the Union St. and Elm Hill schools. The intent of the negative propaganda was to convince voters that closing Park St. School as a school would offset expenses for renovating the other schools. At the same time the requested funding was approved, voters decided by a two to one margin to cease using the Park St. School as a school. The fact that the District ignored the voters' decision, and still uses Park St. School for central office space and as a school, underscores that the building is safe and basically sound.
ReplyDeleteSpringfield should never allow Park St. School to be abandoned or privately owned. It can easily become the centerpiece of our community, having sufficient space to house a host of uses. The question is not whether the building can be used, but rather, which use(s) will be most appropriate to best promote Springfield's future. It is neither a white elephant nor a relic, but an incredible structure that offers Springfield wonderful space conducive to promoting community growth and a brighter future.
The only way that this building will be saved is if private investors takes interest in it. To believe that the community or school can keep this building from falling into disrepair is laughable. The building is amazing and does have so much potential, but it is going to take a lot of money and investment to make it a viable centerpiece in the community.
DeleteI agree Christopher. As to Private Investor, I believe that is an option -- but it is unrealistic to believe that the private investor is going to materialize without the public sector taking the lead in facilitating the conversion.
DeleteMany communities in Vermont have spent public funds to create roofed space, in the hope of attracting businesses. These buildings have had to be constructed on the periphery of the communities, usually in industrial parks. The cost of each square foot of such space has been expensive, and has created long term debt.
ReplyDeleteSpringfield has an enormous advantage in that it owns the land and improvements known as the Park St. School. The architecture of the building evokes an image that is attractive and charming. There is a huge amount of square footage, all paid for, and there is adequate parking. The building is centrally located and enjoys views of downtown Springfield, and is within easy walking distance of many shops and restaurants. It represents an incredible opportunity to radically improve Springfield's present and future community development.
While the Park St. School represents a superb opportunity knocking on Springfield's door, the crucial question remains: will people listen? Those who expect defeat will certainly find it. Those who persevere in the pursuit of a better future will endow our children with more than a better community, but also an example of how creative thinking solves problems and benefits everyone.
If sprawling, abandoned brick buildings in the center of town are such a great asset, why did J&L Plant 3, the Shoddy Mill and the Gillman Shop languish in disrepair? What about the paper mills in BF? Mills in Claremont? These communities can't give these properties away.
ReplyDeleteThere is a reason you idealistic twits are not successful real estate tycoons.
Hear hear..I second that. Can it be re-used. Of course. But you have a bunch of bumbling idiots who think that the "view" of a crumbling town is something special. I don't know any private sector investor that is going to dump money into a building they will not financially benefit from. In addition to that you have to have a rebuilt town that functions normally with good revenue potential for that to work. There are a million small towns and villages in VT with nice old buildings BUT they too are empty and decaying. The best case scenario is to strip the school of the re-usable products (ie marble, pillars, woodwork) that can all be recycled and tear down the shell. Build something cost effective and environmentally friendly in its space. I have given countless alternative uses for the building but when you get this quorum of dimwits together that have the typical Springfield mentality of getting something for nothing with private sector vs public it amounts to nothing but a waste of energy and time. As the above poster wrote this is the exact reason springfield cannot move forward and expand into the future.
DeleteLet's keep in mind we had the old school we gave away that had more historical value than this eyesore. Tear it down and build a new school in its place for the middle school is my vote.
Sprawling abandoned buildings are not great assets, that is why we are working to get it occupied. While some sit around and complain about sprawling abandoned buildings. Duh.
DeleteSpringfield has been a dying town since the unions destroyed the machine tool industry and made it impossible to compete. The failing building is an eyesore, is in the wrong place to be useful and would be too costly to restore. Let it die and raze it to the ground like the rest of Springfield's dinosaurs have needed. It is wonderful to see how everyone thinks there must be public funds(taxpayers) and clueless investors that could be used in salvaging this apatosaurus.
ReplyDeleteIt is amusing how the self-defeating are blind to fortune and deaf to opportunity. Their glass will always be less than half full.
ReplyDeleteOn one side of the Park St. School is a refurbished industrial building, now a state owned and maintained office building, with a parking lot built on the site of the shoddy mill. It houses many offices and employees. Just down Mineral St., Springfield Hospital reclaimed another industrial building, which will soon house many more offices and employees.
Sitting between the two examples of restored decrepit real estate, Park St. School offers far greater value than either of the other two did when projects to renovate them began. Park St. School has never been unheated, unoccupied, and left to rot. Compared to the other two projects, the cost to renovate will be far less per square foot. When it is refurbished, I expect there will be many defeatists who will be angry that visionaries saved another key piece of Springfield's future. They won't be happy unless Springfield collapses into the Black River.
It is amusing how the self-promoting feel they are entitled to spend others people money. The refurbished buildings that you cite are all done with other people's money. State funded buildings, public hospitals, etc. All using public funds for boondoggles. Maybe you can get some other state run organization to occupy the space while using public funds? Maybe Springfield needs another state correctional facility to "beautify" the area? Maybe they could house offenders there after they get out of prison? How about a biomass project? Couldn't be any worse than the good old days of the shoddy mill operating. Ah nostalgia....what a wonderful selective thing it is.
DeleteMr. Coughlin,
DeleteYour attitude is not only refreshing but invigorating as well. What our town needs is an infusion of POSITIVE CAN-DO foresight and not the Eor fatalists that are heard far too often on this blog.
Good for you!
Don't forget the state needs beds for mental patients. Park St. School would make an excellent addition to mental health services, if retrofitted for the mental patients now sleeping in privately funded dumpsters!
DeleteRe: "It is amusing how the self-defeating are blind to fortune and deaf to opportunity. Their glass will always be less than half full."
DeleteHas anyone ever seen the above bloviator's properties (yes, that's a plural "properties") in Springfield? They are unkempt and rundown and are the essence of one who is self-defeated and whose glass has remained less than half-full for years.
Just another blowhard whose credo is "Do as I say, not as I do."
Post as you may, but until you starting doing, we ain't listening.
Sadly the guy is trying to label himself as a visionary, belittle those that can see reality, and expecting others to pony up the costs for implementing his fantasy.
DeleteI don't see any constructive comments being made by those attacking Chris Coughlin. It simply amazes me that so many people are opposed to doing anything positive to help accelerate the turn around in Springfield, like stating the current reality is the only possible reality...how did that ever accomplish anything?
DeleteSorry Jack but trying to save the dinosaurs of Springfield with other peoples' money has been tried in the past and has failed miserably. Get over it. Start thinking about how Springfield can attract real businesses that don't depend on a hand out from the taxpayers and don't line the pockets of a select few. When Springfield really embraces that concept maybe they can make up for 50 years of failing policies and a losing mentality. I think Rip Van Winkle would have enjoyed living here during that time...sound asleep and awakening to everything he knew either gone or rotted.
DeleteIf C.C. is such an authority on real estate refurbishment, he'd do well to improve upon his own condemned apartment house on Park Street. It's just one more vacant eyesore in disrepair that adds to the blight.
ReplyDeleteAfter the Brown Holt historic building on Park St. was flooded in Jan., 2011, though Springfield officials assured me the Town was responsible for repairs, the Town's insurance company, the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, denied liability for damages caused by the Springfield Water Dept.'s failed equipment. My insurance company, Phenix Ins., also denied liability. The League ordered Springfield officials not to talk to me, and after sending me several absurd cut and paste letters, in which even my name was not used, insisted it would only respond to communications through attorneys. It should be noted that while Springfield pays its insurance premiums to the League, Springfield's claims for damages caused by failed water mains will not be honored.
DeleteWith the help of an excellent attorney, Susan Manley, Esq. of Hayes and Windish in Woodstock, funding has at last been achieved from Phenix Ins. to environmentally clean and refurbish the building on Park St.. Environmental clean-up has been completed, and refurbishment and repairs have begun. Unfortunately, I was only insured for actual value, not replacement cost, and I must also pay attorney fees. I am meeting those portions of the costs.
The future use of the Brown Holt house will depend upon several factors, not the least of which is the direction the Town takes in addressing its potential future. I have no intention of riding a "Titanic" to the bottom.
However, it seems there are some in this community of ours that are not happy unless they are drilling holes in our boat. Then they complain because their rear ends are wet!!
Agree with you Christopher...they seem to want to magnify the icebergs and make a beeline course to intersect with them.
DeleteI believe Springfield is a microcosm of the entire country.
ReplyDeleteNot enough industry and financial waste/greed by federal and local governments is leading to a dilapidated country. The debates on this blog often remind me of the debates in Congress. Ultimately, very little gets done so I'm not anticipating any dramatic changes in Springfield in the foreseeable future.
Springfield is far from being a "microcosm of the entire country". It is in a league of its own. The past 50 years of economic destruction are proof of that.
DeleteI agree that Springfield is a microcosm of the country. It has been heavily adversely impacted by trickle down economics which has resulted in the decimation of our domestic manufacturing base as it has all moved to China where they have neo-slave labor. Perot had it basically right when he said that the free trade agreements would result in a big sucking sound as our manufacturing based got sucked over to peasant economies. However, I do believe in the ability for dramatic change if we continue to try and swim against the country's current and not just give into the idea that the current reality is the only possible reality.
DeleteIts so interesting to watch all the private sector, free market champions go negative on Springfield and urge less and less public sector intervention as the economic system busily transfers all of our manufacturing, etc. to China, a communist country....so strange...
DeleteSurely you can find some OPM(other peoples' money) to solve your problem?
ReplyDeleteSince when his tax money "other people's money" and since when is abandoning beautiful public buildings anyone other than all of our problems?
DeletePersonally, I voted to keep and renovate Park Street as a school. I think it's a crying shame that those who pushed for it's closure continue to sit in offices in the "delapitated" old building. Park Street is a beautiful example of architecture.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I agree that it's refurbishment would be a burden on Springfield taxpayers, as it's continued inefficient use. It either needs a life as something that earns revenue in this town, or it's time to put it on the market. Give it 2 years...continue to heat it for that period so it doesn't have the problems an unheated building see in further detioration, and if at the end of that time, a suitable developer has not come calling, look into razing it. Sell off the historic woodwork and such...there is a market for that stuff if carefully removed, and move on.
Ask the owner of the vacant, dilapidated, Parks & Wilson, brick building next to the old high school about his grandiose plans for refurbishment. The building was essentially free. Advertised throughout the Northeast with tens of thousands of mailings, next to no one showed up. The lesson was clear. These 100+ year old brick buildings are worthless.
ReplyDeleteAs romantic and noble as the concept seems, no investor is going to throw their money away. Nor should the do-gooders expect us taxpayers to buy into their naive illusions of a grandeur.
Embrace the Reinvent Springfield theme. Raze these eye sores to make room for new, tax generating properties.
The only difference is the industrial buildings are far grungier, and show more wear and tear and proabbly other than the facade, have less attractive interiors. So there is a difference in attractiveness to developers between an industrial building, and a general commercial building. Having said that, we have plenty of general commercial on the market in this town as well that isn't selling, so the writing may be on the wall...
DeleteThere is a major difference. When they closed Parks and Wilson they failed to drain the pipes and they of course all burst destroying the inside of the building, and it has not been maintained. Park Street on the other hand is structurally sound and in good condition -- the problem is the Fire and Safety Codes have changed since it was first built.
DeleteJack. Having to completely gut and rebuild an old building from the inside out is an extremely costly venture. Without taxpayer subsidies, historical tax credits, special treatment, etc. it is virtually impossible to do it in a cost effective manner. Fire codes are not the only things that have changed. How much toxic material is in the school?Building codes, building materials, and most importantly energy efficiencies have all changed drastically requiring the complete rebuilding of the interior. As another reader points out it is not like the space is highly needed when there is a vast amount of empty space already. You self proclaimed "visionaries" need to get your heads out of the clouds and perhaps another area and stop promoting ways of spending OPM.
DeleteAnonymous 3:47, and the cost of the alternatives are?
DeleteI haven't read through all of the comments on this blog so I'm not sure, but has anyone brought up the fact that Bill Harbeson is on the school board and next year will be sending his kids to NECA in Claremont? Are we ok with a school board member who won't even have his kids in Springfield schools? He has made no secret of the fact that his kids won't be in Springfield schools next year and as a Springfield parent I don't want him making decisions for my child when he doesn't even have the confidence in his own decisions to send his children to our local, public schools. We need to get together and call for his resignation from the school board effective immediately.
ReplyDeleteI don't see what this has to do with Park Street School? Is there some connection here?
Delete@ anonymous 4:18 just so people are clear. I am still a taxpayer of Springfield and I enjoy doing the work of a school board member and last but not least I still have a child in the school system and he is very excited about starting seventh grade next year. Thank you for your concern over my choices if anyone has questions or concerns and not personal attacks please feel free to contact me, my info is on the schools website. Bill Harbeson
ReplyDeleteI agree and I think frankly it would be a godsent to have someone who chose to pull their child from the district. It gives them a far greater view on things that work and don't work for a system. Again, here we go with some springfielder who is bitter. Frankly leave Bill alone. I think he is a breath of fresh air and we need four others on the board like him who are not going to hold allegiance to anyone except for the kids and the taxpayers. In business, which includes operation of school systems, you trust noone and you make sound BUSINESS decisions for the operation. You don't just take someones word that things are ok. That already got this district in trouble. Secondly, dont be a hater that someone has the oppourtunity to send their child to a private school. What parent wouldn't do that in the best interest of their child. That doesn't mean that a person makes unsound unfair choices or doesn't have a right to participate in a democratic society.
DeleteFor the record, I wouldn't know Mr Harbeson from a hole in the wall. What I do know is that I wouldn't take an unpaid thankless criticism-riddled position on the Springfield School Board for all the money in the world.
DeleteI work two jobs and on the occasions I get to watch SAPA, I see Mr Harbeson as a person who is reflective and able to seperate fact from fiction.....my opinion.
So anon @ 4:18.....since you're so BRILLIANT!....why don't YOU run for School Board?
OH, I forgot......you're too LAZY!
Wow! A defense appears on an obscure blog in record time. I don't know whether Bill Harbeson has done a good job or not. When one is partially responsible for the school system and he is removing his children from that system begs further discussion and scrutiny. To point out that he will have only one remaining child in the system is really concerning. Will that remaining child be removed from the system in the next few years? Whether Bill Harbeson did the right things while in a position of power or whether he became frustrated with what he saw should be open to PUBLIC discussion, not some emails from him to questioners that will never see the light of day. If what was posted about him removing his own children from the school system is true then it is time to find someone who believes in the system and is willing to subject his children to what he is in part controlling.
DeleteSomebody want to explain why these personal attacks on a school board member are occurring in post to an article on Park Street School. Take your issues with Mr. Harbeson to some other arena.
DeleteAh...supposedly the real Bill Harbeson posted here defending himself and then tried to get questions directed away from this public forum. He opened Pandora's Box by responding and now he should continue to respond in a public forum like this. If he has nothing to hide what is the big problem? Does Mr. Harbeson not have any responsibilities to respond to the public when questions are raised? I am sure most would agree. He is in a public position that controls the schools in Springfield. Public officials get to answer questions under public scrutiny or is Springfield just different from the rest of the world? Relax. Most would welcome an opportunity to set things straight publicly.
DeleteThe problem is this doesn't have anything to do with Park Street School. Why was he attacked in posts pertaining to Park Street School in the first place. I don't read anything in any of the posts having to do with him that has anything to do with Park Street School or its reuse. If you want to take on Mr. Harbeson, then write an article on him and send it to a paper -- if it gets published then I am sure this blogspot will republish it here. But these personal attacks on him under this article are innappropriate.
DeleteHow do we know it was bill harbeson was in fact the person posting the previous messages?
ReplyDeleteI am bill harbeson and i am sending all of my kids to private schools next year because i see first hand how badly this town supports education.
How can you people even sleep at night?
ReplyDeleteThe school board hires people from all over the country to run Elm Hill and they won't even sign a contract after being here less then a few weeks.
When a guy who WENT TO SPRINGFIELD SCHOOLS, HAS A CHILD IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND LIVES IN SPRINGFIELD you blast him for trying to better his kids education.
Do you know the reason he is sending that child to Claremont?
Do you know anything about him besides seeing him on SAPA or knowing that he is on the school board?
I didn't think so.
I am only commenting because you people are ready to get the pick axes and pitch forks out everytime someone on the school board sneezes or crosses the road with their shoes untied. Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
I too, think most of them need to be replaced, however, Bill is a good guy, down to earth and he wants whats best for the children of this town. He is just what this town needs to get the school board back on track eventually.
Isn't this post supposed to be about Park St School?
are you the real Bill Harbeson?
DeleteParent, I agree these personal attacks have nothing to do with Park Street and are innappropriate.
DeleteSo the school board has nothing to do with Park Street? Gee who coulda knowed? I don't see any personal attacks on Harbeson. I see a reasonable question raised: "Are we ok with a school board member who won't even have his kids in Springfield schools?" Someone calling himself Bill acknowledged the question and asked for direct contact rather then discuss the question in a public forum. Since then most of the other comments are defending Bill and others crying to stop attacking Bill.
ReplyDeleteSo what is his position with respect to Park Street do you know? This is just a random attack on a person because he is on the School Board -- I have no idea what his position is with regards to Park Street and I don't think the people attacking him have any idea either.
DeleteWho is attacking him? Certainly not the person that asked a valid question. You are one of the ones trying to make it seem like he is being attacked when in reality he has not been. Why are you doing that? What is your agenda? Show me the post where he was attacked or stop crying wolf. Asking valid questions doesn't count.
DeleteMy question is who are YOU? What does Bill Harbeson sending his child to a private school have to do with Park St. School?
DeleteIf you want to talk with him or ask him why he is sending his kid there, write him an email, ask him on the street or try to call him.
This story is/was about Park Street School.
The same thing tried to happen a week or two ago about kids being let off the bus on Route 106. It was shut down really quick when a person with a real name ended it with facts.
Hopefully Bill is smart enough to stay off this blog and not feed into you morons. Keep on subject, I know you all like drama just by reading this blog for the last month or so. You are all like cackling old hens looking for a worm.
Who are you? Why do you persist in talking about Bill Harbeson when we want to talk about Park Street school? Why do you keep posting about him when you can email him? Maybe Bill Harbeson can post what the current position and thoughts that the school board has about Park Street.
DeleteThese recent B.H. posts have NOTHING to do with the topic at hand! I can't speak for Aethelred, but I believe he/she was simply attempting to bring the discussion back on course.
ReplyDeleteFocus on the ISSUE and let's discuss it intelligently. OK?
This blog focused on posting about B. H. mainly because of Aethelred and his continual crying of "Wolf" and a few others obsessing like yourself. The school board does have something to do with the future of Park Street. Seems to me a few years ago the school board declared they would be closing the school and then somehow that changed.....we know they authorized a study of the school. Hey here is a novel thought for you.....what do you think about saving the school and do you have any idea how much public money will be used and wasted to save this dinosaur? Looking at the recent 2011 fall proficiency scores it appears that it might be better to close all of the schools in Springfield which is no longer the crucible of innovation or competency and bus all of the students to another town.
DeleteWhat? You are accusing me of crying "Wolf" and then call for closing all the schools? There have been several citizen committees appointed to study the building and all have advocated for its preservation. But instead of an intelligent discussion of what to do about the building, we have a segment of the population calling for it to be closed and sold -- even though there is probably no market for the building. And then when people try to get intelligent discussion going, we have this personal attack on a school board member which appears to have almost nothing to do with Park Street. We don't even know the position of the board member being attacked.
DeleteWhy do you keep posting about a personal attack on a school board member that never happened? It seems you are unable to carry on an intelligent discussion of what to do about the building. Instead you keep blathering about something that never happened here. All someone did was ask an intelligent question and you have gone bonkers crying about it in every post since. Why don't you tell us how you intend to save the school without taking the money out of other peoples' pockets like every other restoration in Springfield?
DeletePublic buildings were built with public funds and maintained by public funds. I see no reason why they shouldn't be updated with public funds so they can continue to serve the community. I believe the various groups which have studied the situation have always looked for reuses that made sense in terms of trying to make good use of public funds, and avoiding uses that weren't either currently being sustained by some governmental budget or had independent revenue producing capabilities. I am not sure what restorations in Springfield you are referring to, but I certainly believe the restoration of the movie theater was a great idea, and applaud the rescue and salvation of the former gear shaper complex. These projects are bright spots in what is frequently a somewhat dismal scenes left by the private sector. So is this project going to be done without grants and other public funding, very unlikely...is this community going to be turned around without a lot of that? Probably not. There is that what you wanted to hear?
DeleteExcellent points Jack. Unfortunately the Fellows Gear Shaper location should have been entirely dozed and a new facility built upon the site. It would have been a lot cheaper. When you retain basically the front bricks in order to obtain public funds, tax credits, special treatment and only have to sign a lease to prevent any liability you to start asking if the people in Springfield are really that stupid. I am willing to bet that most residents of Springfield did not believe the sight of Fellows was something they could live without and might have enjoyed a modern structure that was pleasing to the eye. In the end if the Fellows restoration is successful the majority of the money made will be transferred into the pockets of a few and mostly out of state. In the long run the town will suffer as the money leaves. Yes there maybe a few jobs in return but doubtfully enough to offset all of the financial incentives given to those that will reap the benefits.
ReplyDeleteThe Gear Shaper complex was and is an absolutely amazing complex, it would have been a tragedy had it been dozed and replaced with a tacky modern building out of character with the Town. Its unfortunate that the Parks and Wilson building went the sell it off at auction don't winterize it, let the pipes burst route. The Gear Shaper complex will eventually fill and be a major asset and income driver for Springfield.
DeleteThe proof is in the pudding. In the meantime how are the revenues for the town coming from such an "absolutely amazing complex"? Maybe your own personal opinion is not that of the majority of the residents of Springfield? Springfield needs to focus on producing top notch students from its school system instead of producing more expensive buildings and complexes while the school system is failing. Perhaps if Springfield stopped funding boondoggles and started focusing on trying to get back to the future and stopped living in the past they might start attracting worthwhile businesses instead of prisons and biomass projects that will degrade the area. What company wants to locate in a town where their employees would have to send their children to an inferior school system producing below average students while paying a huge tax burden at the same time? If you don't think that the quality of the school system is a major factor in attracting people and businesses to an area you have a lot to learn. Restoring costly old buildings with tax payer monies instead of building cheaper and efficient modern buildings is not the answer.
DeleteSpringfield does not have an inferior school system, it is dealing with a demographic challenge due to a large percentage of poverty level students. The students from engaged families are doing fine after graduation. However, because it was a former Mill town where the career goal after high school was to go to work at the mills, the families had no tradition which pointed towards higher education. As a result, you cannot fairly compare results in Springfield against communities with relatively affluent college educated families. We have effective programs in the schools, but until we start concentrating on improving the Town by cleaning up the vacant buildings and not adding to their numbers, we are not going to effect a sufficient demographic shift to make a difference. I do not see a cutting edge bio-mass plant as degrading the community when it will help lower taxes, reduce water utility rates, and provide spin off employment to the local timber industry. The Prison was probably a mistake, but mainly because the State did not keep its promises regarding release of inmates or employment of local people as guards. But, I do not condemn it because it was an attempt to at least do something to pull the Town up and we need more attempts so we have to expect some mistakes. Complete adversion to risking a mistake results in no progress whatsoever.
DeleteSpringfield does have an inferior school system and making lame excuses as to why is the reason it does. If they had a school board that actually dealt with the problems in an efficient manner none of this would be happening. It has not been a Mill town for decades and when it was the school system was rated highly. Now it is producing below average students and blaming the children that are from less financially fortunate families is idiotic. Everyone deserves a quality education and if the town focused on that instead of spending money on restoration boodoggles things would change for the better. This what you get in Springfield with excuses like yours:
Deletehttp://www.homefacts.com/schools/Vermont/Windsor-County/Springfield/Springfield-High-School.html
I have to agree with Aethelred on this even if he still believes the biomass plant will be clean burning and won't harm property values. The demographic shift has led to the expectation that schools now need to raise, as well as educate children. I have children in the school system and have been very impressed with the quality of teachers and programming they have had. I don't think Aethelred is blaming the children. It's the parents and the State and non profits who enable the parents who deserve at least some of the blame. Many of these parents are still children themselves, and poverty is a culture where education is not generally valued. Many of these kids are not socialized and ready for school. Often any strides made while in school are negated by the dysfunction and/ or abuse they go home to. Springfield has 50 percent or more of all the low income and subsidized housing in all of Windsor county. This along with the prison, family center, state offices, HCRS, and supported housing program etc keep drawing the poverty population here. This has put the town way off balance and is the reason that desperation sets in and makes prisons and biomass plants look like the only way out.
DeleteIt is that attitude that is creating the problem with the Springfield school system. Blame the parents, the state, the non-profits while the responsibility lies with the school system. It is broken. Fix it first. Fix it first before more money gets blown trying to restore decrepit buildings in a fools chase. The fact that Springfield seems to be able to attract only low incomes, charity cases, undesirable industries is solid proof that the clowns running the town have been asleep at their desks for 50 years. There is no doubt that a school system with a high percentage of students from lower income homes can be challenging but the problem is surmountable. It can be fixed but it won't be while people blame everything else for the schools failure. My guess is the lower income children are treated differently by their teachers than the other students. I am sure now all of the teachers and their higher income defenders will now descend and declare that not to be the case but it was true many years ago and I bet it has only gotten worse in recent years with the increase in lower income students.
DeleteWhen you take a community that was accustomed to graduate from high school and immediately enter an employment pool that was earning union scale wages, and shift it to a community where the only non-college graduage jobs pay slightly above minimum wage -- it tends to take a generation of constant effort to get the community back on its feet. Without intending to make any slur on the poor, the fact is that children from families with no history of attending college are less likely to attend college, and if the parents have no clue about how to provide an academically enriched environment at home -- then they are unlikely to provide that environment. So Springfield went from a well paid non-college bound environment to a poorly paid non-college bound environment and the results are predictable. And don't give me the unions destroyed the mills nonsense -- the mills began becoming obsolete with the advent of computers and were finished off by the advent of free trade agreements.
DeleteFor fifty years Springfield has done nothing to attract profitable businesses. The opposite has been happening. Why is that? The only businesses that get promoted are prisons and other state funded enterprises or undesirable businesses that come with consequences and only a select few profit. The restorations have a huge amount of public money involved. Your story about why the school system is failing is completely out in fantasy land as you blame the poor. Your story created to protect unions is a fabrication. Blaming the advent of computers is even more ridiculous. Why don't you go to Detroit and peddle the same reasons for that city's failure? You would be laughed out of town if anyone still living there could still laugh while they are crying. Don't you think it is about time Springfield stops being looted?.
DeleteTEAR THE DAMN THING DOWN AND QUIT LIVING IN THE PAST! Everyone keeps touting how great the re-done building is that will house Dr. offices etc. However what the group of dimwits doesnt mention is all the office buildings and spaces around town that will be vacated when the medical offices move into that building. So again one step forward and 10 steps back for the town. More vacant buildings and offices.
ReplyDeleteAt least someone gets it....
DeleteThose office buildings and spaces are more easily filled than it was to clean up and convert the Gear Shaper complex which was in the heart of town.
DeleteI'm not talking about easy we are talking about the hype of filling spaces in town. Now we will have double the empty spaces. If they are so easily filled why are the vast numbers of spaces in town filled then since it is so easy!
DeleteMy bad..should read vast numbers of spaces not filled
DeleteI think this building could be used for all or any Town functions and or headquarters until filled to capacity with each paying there fair share. This is one of the nicest building in town and one of the nicest buildings Spfld. owns, it would be a shame to let it go.
ReplyDelete