Mayor Sarno states, “I want to thank Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, MassDevelopment CEO Dan Rivera, and the entire Baker-Politio Administration for their continued support and funding for this key property. This continues my administrations continued comprehensive efforts and initiatives in our Indian Orchard neighborhood in making targeted infrastructure improvements, neighborhood planning, and redevelopment of underutilized properties.”
The award was announced by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and MassDevelopment CEO Dan Rivera in Taunton this week. Springfield was among one of the 13 awards announced across the state in the competitive program.
“This award coincides with neighborhood planning efforts we are making in Indian Orchard,” said CDO Sheehan. “Working closely with Councilor Zaida Govan and the neighborhood council we have advanced on several fronts and look forward to returning this property to productive reuse.”
This funding will be used to complete Phase II environmental testing and cleanup and reuse planning for the 16-acre site. Historically the site was part of the larger Crane site that included parcels on Goodwin Street that have since been redeveloped into a large solar use facility. A smaller parcel on Pinevale Street has been converted to the Wellspring Harvest Greenhouse, the first hydroponic greenhouse in Springfield.
The city has also been supporting the work of the University of Massachusetts Amherst design studio, ‘Creating Connections in Indian Orchard’, a student led planning effort from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning. A public presentation of that work is expected in December.
Additionally, the city has been working with the Indian Orchard Neighborhood Council to examine the potential reuse of the former Indian Orchard Fire Station on Oak Street for the benefit of the community.
MassDevelopment oversees the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, which helps to transform vacant, abandoned, or underused industrial or commercial properties by financing the environmental assessment and remediation of brownfield sites in the Commonwealth. From the Fund’s inception in 1998 through FY22, it has supported 778 awards for a total investment of more than $114 million.
