Springfield Republican, by Jim Russell
Grants boost infrastructure work at former Belchertown State School, marketing plans at Ludlow Mills
July 23, 2020
BELCHERTOWN — A round of grants totaling $3.6 million will help pay for 12 redevelopment projects across the state, at locations including the former Belchertown State School property and the Ludlow Mills complex, Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said Wednesday.
In Belchertown, a $265,000 grant will supplement a $550,000 federal grant awarded in December for roadway, sidewalk, utility and stormwater improvements at the site known as the Carriage Grove industrial district. A 17-acre industrial and business park is being developed there.
MassDevelopment, the state’s economic development and finance authority, calls Carriage Grove a “new neighborhood” at the State School site, part of a master plan for up to 581,000 square feet of mixed-use development.
The Belchertown Day School bought two acres in late 2019 and plans to build a new childcare facility.
The Belchertown Economic Development and Industrial Corporation, a committee appointed by the Select Board, is official owner of the 55-acre state school property.
In Ludlow, the Westmass Area Development Corporation received $80,000 to assist redevelopment at Ludlow Mills.
They will use the money to “update marketing data, prepare a strategic marketing plan, and prepare specific redevelopment build-out concepts for individual mill buildings and districts within the Ludlow Mills complex,” the governor’s statement says.
The other projects include:
- Good Samaritan Life Science Center, Brockton - $150,000
- Matthews Street Business Park, Gardner - $80,000
- South Shore Smart Growth Analysis, Hanover, Hingham, Norwell, Rockland, & Weymouth - $75,000
- Marriner Building, Lawrence - $250,000
- Merrimack Paper Mill, Lawrence - $750,000
- Ayer’s City Business Park, Lowell - $375,000
- 70 Church Street, Lowell - $300,000
- Revere Copper Site, New Bedford - $735,000
- Hedges Pond Road Site, Plymouth - $60,000
- Gardner Street Railroad Bridge, Worcester - $500,000