Grant to aid Westford’s 12 North Main St. site; property’s future in focus
November 22, 2021 : Wicked Local Westford, by Margaret Smith
WESTFORD -- The town has received a state grant to assist with the cleanup and development of the 12 North Main St. property, Town Manager Jodi Ross said.
In a letter, state officials announced the award of a $240,000 through the state's Brownfields Redevelopment program through MassDevelopment.
The town will enter into a pact regarding the funds use, including conditions, timeframe and other requirements.
News of the grant award was announced at a gathering of state and town officials.
In January 2020, the town was among the municipalities and organizations that received Brownfields Redevelopment Fund awards, receiving $64,500.
A joint meeting is set between the Select Board and Historic Commission on Nov. 23, regarding the commission's recommendation for next steps for the property.
Place in history
The site was once home to the Westford Anodizing site, at the historic Abbot Worsted property in Graniteville.
A Nov. 6 letter from the Historic Commission describes the structure, a granite mill building, an “iconic structure in the neighborhood for generations."
Built by Charles G. Sargent and Francis Calvert in 1858 and used primarily by the Abbot Worsted Company until 1956, the commission said, "It represents the history and fabric of Graniteville."
Costs, complexities
In a Nov. 18 letter to Ross, Assistant Town Manager Eric Heideman cited a licensed site professional's estimate that exterior remediation work on the site will cost about $534,50.
The remaining $294,500 balance to the list of potential projects to be funded through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
The letter notes signification deterioration inside the building, which could call for stabilization upgrades, selectively demolishing sections of the building, or both to gain safe access.
Estimated cost could exceed $1.5 million and the hiring of an owner's project manager, Heideman said.
The town could also seek Community Preservation Act funds, provided the town elects to preserve at least part of the building.
Heideman noted the Historic Commission has mentioned the town keeping a portion of the removed stone and salvageable beams, as outlined in a memo from the commission.
This action may or may not be permitted depending on the Department of Environmental Protection’s direction given the potential exposure to asbestos containing materials related to the roof collapse.
Eye on options
The letter from the Historic Commission, dated Nov. 6, notes a structural assessment conducted Dec. 4 by CBI Consulting, and the request for direction submitted by Heideman on Sept. 9.
In 2015, the town supported the stabilization of the mill and appropriated $378,250 in Community Preservation Act funding.
The Historic Commission suggests a partial removal of the northeast third of the remaining standing walls to the extent a bell tower on site would allow a reduction of size of the building, improve access to the interior, and a more feasible opportunity for an architectural plan of the remaining two thirds to the southwest.
The Historic Commission believes the building too large and at present unfeasible to present for a viable request for proposal to future developers.
About brownfields
The Environmental Protection Agency defines brownfields as properties whose reuse or expansion may be complicated by the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.
It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 brownfields in the U.S.
