Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan joined today at City Hall to speak on the state’s decision on the Springfield Regional Justice Center new court house location.
The state’s Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) and the Massachusetts Trial Court have selected “the postage stamp-sized” 125 Liberty Street/Liberty Junction Team as the site and developer for the new Springfield Regional Justice Center Project.
“This one hurts, this one really hurts.” stated Mayor Sarno. “It’s going to hurt our residents and business community. This is not a game-changing project, which DCAMM Commissioner Adam Baacke had said he wanted a ‘game-changing project.’ Now, apparently, according to Commissioner Baacke, the additional private development components like housing, retail, and a mini marina were not a factor? Nor was an agreed upon project labor agreement (PLA) with our local brothers and sisters in union labor for building trades.”
“The game-changing site is at the North Riverfront Area. That site would have brought 4 development projects into one with the housing, retail, abundant parking and secured parking, and mini-marina components in addition to the courthouse. If they went the cheap way out in picking the lowest bid, that would be ‘penny-wise and pound-foolish.’ This could have been a new horizon, a new frontier for our Springfield and surrounding areas. The state administration, as well as mine, have continually pushed that more housing is desperately needed. Well, the selected site has no housing component, no retail component, no mini-marina, and I don’t know where you’ll park, and again, no PLA.”
“I always have to punch above my weight as I continue to fight tooth and nail for the city of Springfield. Once again, Boston power brokers are telling the city of Springfield what to do. Local developers were shunned. Two qualified local developers who have a demonstrated positive track record were dismissed in favor of a Boston-based developer. Extremely disappointing to hear from DCAMM now that projects that included add-on private development were not considered any differently than those that did not – ‘utterly ridiculous.’ By the way, an astute reporter asked today, ‘do you think a Springfield developer would ever get a shot in Boston? – “No way!”
CDO Tim Sheehan stated, “I think the sense of disappointment felt today is based on the earlier discussions we’d had with DCAMM when this was first emerging. What we were given was to look at what could this be from an economic development stand-point beyond just a courthouse? What we ended up with is a basic courthouse. Also, there were two locally qualified development entities that made it to the final round here, and ultimately the decision was made not to go local, but to go to Boston. That raises concerns from the city, as Springfield is local by nature. Now we have a site that is pretty limited and a Boston developer.”
Mayor Sarno continued, “This is a one-dimensional project. It will not have the same positive impact as a project that includes private development for housing, retail, riverfront, and more. It also does not include a Project Labor agreement with our brothers and sisters in trades.”
“Both Jeb Balise and Peter Picknelly’s philanthropic efforts and commitment to the economic development are unquestioned here in Springfield. And both have kept their homes, their families and their investments here in our community. Both of these local developers put forth the type of game-changing projects DCAMM requested, and made it to the final round. It’s disappointing that the economic development catalyst components were not a true factor for the state’s selection process, as it would have helped us transform and connect so many crucial points of our downtown and riverfront development,” said Mayor Sarno.”
“Ultimately, I am very happy for our Springfield courthouse employees, who will have a safe place to go to work. We fought hard to get the Trial Court and state’s attention on addressing the sick building and advocated to keep the new courthouse here in downtown Springfield.”
WWLP 22 News streamed the Mayor's press conference live: www.facebook.com/share/v/18VQ5NUqd1/
