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roundhouse gazette articlesAccessible: Building completes remodeling Cameron, Judith B. Daily Hampshire Gazette. Northampton, Mass.: Jan 04, 1993. Sec. A. pg. 23 Subjects: Renovation & restoration, Office space, New England, Handicapped people, Federal legislation Classification Codes 8360, 4320, 2310 Locations: US, Northampton, MA Author(s): Cameron, Judith B Publication title: Daily Hampshire Gazette. Northampton, Mass.: Jan 04, 1993. Sec. A. pg. 23 Publication Section: A Source type: Newspaper ISSN: 07393504 ProQuest document ID: 6475919 Text Word Count 712 Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com.silk.library.umass.edu:2048/pqdweb?d id=6475919&sid=4&Fmt=3&clientId=2724&RQT=309&VName=PQD Abstract (Document Summary) NORTHAMPTON--The city's Community Access in Northampton program has finished its first phase, making seven downtown businesses more accessible to people in wheelchairs. The improvements, which include installing automatic doors, eliminating entrance steps and making aisles wider, have also benefited the elderly and the parents with children in strollers, business owners say. The businesses involved in the program are Iron Horse Coffee House, Gazebo, The Mercantile and dentist Sander J. Fasten, all on Center Street; Serendipity and Guild Art Center, both on Main Street, and Cornucopia Foods, at Thornes Market, Main Street. (excerpt) Full Text (712 words) Copyright Hampshire Gazette Jan 04, 1993 NORTHAMPTON--The city's Community Access in Northampton program has finished its first phase, making seven downtown businesses more accessible to people in wheelchairs. The improvements, which include installing automatic doors, eliminating entrance steps and making aisles wider, have also benefited the elderly and the parents with children in strollers, business owners say. The businesses involved in the program are Iron Horse Coffee House, Gazebo, The Mercantile and dentist Sander J. Fasten, all on Center Street; Serendipity and Guild Art Center, both on Main Street, and Cornucopia Foods, at Thornes Market, Main Street. The impetus for the changes comes from the federal Americans with Disability Act, a civil rights law for people with disabilities. The law requires, among other things, that public buildings be accessible to everyone. Carol Heon, manager for the Center Street building, said that the project cost between $25,000 and $30,000. It involved eliminating a step in front of the entrances to the four street-level businesses and a fifth main entrance to the building, which has some 40 offices, as well as installing automatic doors for the office building and at each of the four businesses. "There was a lot involved," she said of the work which began in October and was completed in late November. The owner of the building, Everett Fowle of Maine, was aided in paying for the work by a $4,000 grant from the city. In an effort to provide an incentive to businesses to comply with the ADA, the city has allocated $10,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds from the last fiscal year for the Community Access in Northampton program. Though no funds have been appropriated for the program this year, there is high interest in continuing it, said Penny Kim, the city's planning director. Other businesses involved in the program are E.J. Gare Jewelry store and Beyond Words Bookstore, both on Main Street, and Words and Pictures, a comic art museum located in the Roundhouse building off Main Street. At the Center Street building the new walkways with ramps that replaced the step leading to the entrances contain granite and mosaic tile materials. The walkways were designed by Center Street Architects, whose offices are in that building, and are in keeping with the look and age of the building, Heon said. The contractor for the work was Dave Johnson of Northampton. Heon said that the old walkways were made of glass blocks and when the new walkway was constructed reinforcements in the basements were needed. Changes to the elevator in the five-story building, known as Central Chambers, will also be made so that people in wheelchairs can operate it. The control panels and individual floor buttons need to be lowered, Heon said. Once that is done, all offices will be accessible to people in wheelchairs. A bathroom designed to be accessible was installed last year. Heon said many of the building's office tenants are medical professionals who say the improvements have been helpful to elderly people as well as those with children. For example, elderly people using canes or walkers can now easily get into the building by pushing an electric button that automatically opens the main door. Jordi Herold, owner of the Iron Horse, said he has received many positive comments about the new ramp entrance. When the coffeehouse expanded into adjacent space in 1989 Herold had a section of floor evened out and installed an accessible bathroom. "It was a very expensive proposition costing thousands of dollars," Herold said. Judith Fine, owner of the Gazebo, said she made the aisles in her store wider by eliminating racks of clothing in the center of the store and installing more wall racks instead. Creating more aisle space has forced her to be more efficient in controlling inventory, she said, while the changes incurred minimal cost. "Everybody's feedback is positive. I think it's exciting," Fine said. "I think it's a step in the right direction," said Joseph Tringali, community development coordinator for Stavros Center for Independent Living. Many new changes in buildings aimed at accommodating people with disabilities are being done, as Central Chambers was, with a "universal design," Tringali said. That means the change is not meant for just one generation or group but makes things easier for a wide variety of people. ********* Road work called key to development Kerstetter, Greg. Daily Hampshire Gazette. Northampton, Mass.: Feb 02, 1993. Sec. 1. pg. 3 Subjects: New England, Highway construction, Economic development Classification Codes 8370, 1120 Locations: US, Northampton, MA Author(s): Kerstetter, Greg Publication title: Daily Hampshire Gazette. Northampton, Mass.: Feb 02, 1993. Sec. 1. pg. 3 Publication Section: 1 Source type: Newspaper ISSN: 07393504 ProQuest document ID: 6475508 Text Word Count 467 Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com.silk.library.umass.edu:2048/pqdweb?d id=6475508&sid=4&Fmt=3&clientId=2724&RQT=309&VName=PQD Abstract (Document Summary) NORTHAMPTON--Unless the city attends to a dual problem of reducing traffic congestion and extending a sewer line, it stands little chance of filling a proposed Route 10 industrial park, according to a city official. Andrew J. Crystal, chairman of the city's Planning Board, told the Economic Development Partnership last night that changes are needed at the intersection of Old South and South streets to encourage growth of the proposed industrial park near the Easthampton line. Crystal also said the park's fate is gloomy unless the city extends the sewer line that now ends where Earle Street meets Route 10. (excerpt) Full Text (467 words) Copyright Hampshire Gazette Feb 02, 1993 NORTHAMPTON--Unless the city attends to a dual problem of reducing traffic congestion and extending a sewer line, it stands little chance of filling a proposed Route 10 industrial park, according to a city official. Andrew J. Crystal, chairman of the city's Planning Board, told the Economic Development Partnership last night that changes are needed at the intersection of Old South and South streets to encourage growth of the proposed industrial park near the Easthampton line. Crystal also said the park's fate is gloomy unless the city extends the sewer line that now ends where Earle Street meets Route 10. "If we solve these (problems,) we then have something to offer to a potential developer," said Crystal, who is also a member of the partnership. Aiming at spurring the city's economic activity, Ford appointed members of city boards, civic groups and business people to the partnership last year. During the group's second meeting last night, Crystal reported the findings of a subcommittee charged with detailing what the city must do to promote development of the Northampton State Hospital property and the proposed industrial park. The state hospital is scheduled to close May 15 and the city is rezoning the area in hopes of guiding economic growth. But without improving the intersection at South and Old South streets, economic development at either site would be difficult, said Crystal. He said that intersection is a gateway to both the state hospital property and Route 10. "As (the intersection) exists today, it is dangerous," said Crystal. "It will not cut the mustard." Last year, the City Council voted to cut $45,000 from the budget that was to pay for an engineering study of the intersection. At-large City Councilor Patrick M. Goggins, chairman of the partnership, said the $45,000 was cut without much thought. Penelope G. Kim, the city's director of planning and development, said there is federal money available for the reconstruction, but first the city must pay for the engineering study. Meanwhile, extending the sewer line would cost at least $2 million, according to Goggins, but Crystal said that expense shouldn't deter the city from planning for the project. "We plan to be the first in line when (federal) money is available and programs are announced for these things," said Crystal. Crystal also re-introduced an old idea for solving downtown traffic congestion and avoiding the snarled intersection at South, Main, State, and Elm streets. He suggested the city consider building a road on the old railroad bed that stretches from the Roundhouse parking lot past Veterans Field and behind the Commonwealth Felt Co. plant. Donald Plows, a senior vice president at the engineering firm of Almer Huntley Jr. and Associates, said building a road on the railroad bed, now owned by the Massachusetts Electric Co., would not cost much money. ******* >>> FRONT PAGE New garage, offices proposed Kerstetter, Greg. Daily Hampshire Gazette. Northampton, Mass.: Sep 26, 1998. pg. 1 Subjects: Real estate developments, Proposals, Office buildings, Parking facilities, Developers Locations: Northampton, MA, US, New England People: Dwyer, Jeffrey P Author(s): Kerstetter, Greg Publication title: Daily Hampshire Gazette. Northampton, Mass.: Sep 26, 1998. pg. 1 Source type: Newspaper ISSN: 07393504 ProQuest document ID: 44879978 Text Word Count 784 Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com.silk.library.umass.edu:2048/pqdweb?d id=44879978&sid=4&Fmt=3&clientId=2724&RQT=309&VName=PQD Abstract (Document Summary) One of the real estate developers who hit it big in the 1980s by renovating the old Pleasant Street post office has returned with another large-scale building proposal this one involving land owned by the city. Full Text (784 words) Copyright Hampshire Gazette Sep 26, 1998 NORTHAMPTON -- One of the real estate developers who hit it big in the 1980s by renovating the old Pleasant Street post office has returned with another large-scale building proposal this one involving land owned by the city. Jeffrey P. Dwyer is proposing a three-level parking garage topped by a five-story office building on land owned by the city near Pulaski Park. The proposal comes only weeks after city boards approved a plan from two local developers to build a five-story office and retail building at the corner of Pearl and Pleasant streets. Having two multi-story office buildings going up at the same time does not concern Dwyer. He said he is after different clients than Matthew Pitoniak and Charles Bowles, the local developers of the Pearl and Pleasant streets project. Dwyer returns to the city where he knew much success, having been a part of six separate downtown property renovations," but this also is the place where he found legal trouble. Dwyer sued one prominent local lawyer for malpractice and got into another legal fight surrounding Sheehan's Cafe. Dwyer was subsequently blamed for actions that led to the demise of the popular Pleasant Street bar. Dwyer, though, is ready for a new development and he has already met the a number of city councilors and downtown business owners to float his idea. He needs the councilors' political support. The land on which Dwyer intends to build the $7 to $8 million office tower belongs to the city. Dwyer said he intends to meet with the city Parking Commission Oct. 6 to discuss a 99-year lease he needs to build on the land. Reached at his home in East Lempster, N.H., Dwyer, 51, said the office tower would be in between The Roundhouse building and the backside of the newly renovated apartment house that faces New South Street. The three levels of parking decks, Dwyer said, will rise to the level of Main Street, where the main floor of the office building will be. As part of the deal, Dwyer said that at least one of the three parking decks will be operated by the city to make up for the parking lost in the Roundhouse Parking Lot. The other parking decks will be privately managed. In total, Dwyer estimated he will add 150 to 175 parking spaces. "It's an innovative idea," said Ward 1 City Councilor William Dwight. "It's pretty clever." Dwight said that he plans on keeping an open mind about the proposal and what it can offer the city. Just having a developer suggest such an extensive project here, Dwight said, means people are bullish on Northampton. "It's kind of flattering. I just hope (Dwyer's) not deluded," said Dwight. The project is not pie-in-the-sky wishing, Dwyer said. The Hampden Savings Bank in Springfield has already pledged financial support, he said. Dwyer said he is not the only investor and others who have put up money. He declined to say who they were. Dwyer said he has a solid reason behind siting the building in Northampton. "The housing market is extraordinary (in Northampton,)" said Dwyer. "That tells you something. People want to live here." Dwyer is hoping businesses also want to move here. He said that he plans on filling the five floors -- 50,000 square feet of space -- with high-tech, start-up firms that were born in the Boston and Hartford areas. He has no committed tenants. "It's almost like Field of Dreams -- if you build it, they will come," said Dwyer. Dwyer said he will charge higher rents than most landlords in downtown Northampton, -- though the rents will be lower than in Boston. While Dwyer has been in Florida for the past six years, working on a development project near Tampa Bay, he said he plans to use a local architect and a local building contractor. He said Lynn Posner Rice, whose office is at 6 Crafts Ave. in Northampton, will be the architect and William Turomsha of Leeds will be the lead builder. At large City Councilor Phillip Sullivan said the exciting part of the proposal is Dwyer's idea of drawing businesses from outside of the area. That will add to the vibrancy of the entire city and at the same time add to the property tax base. Downtown businessowner Judith Fine said she has spoken with Dwyer about the proposal and is excited about the possibilities. From a downtown business standpoint, Fine said, bringing in people from out of the area to work in downtown Northampton has merits. "Those people (working in the building) need to eat lunch and eat dinner and wear underwear," said Fine, who owns the Gazebo, a lingerie store on Center Street. ******** Downtown building projects on hold for awhile Buell, Jeff. Daily Hampshire Gazette. Northampton, Mass.: Feb 15, 1999. pg. B8 Subjects: Area planning & development, Central business districts Locations: Northampton, MA, US, New England Author(s): Buell, Jeff Publication title: Daily Hampshire Gazette. Northampton, Mass.: Feb 15, 1999. pg. B8 Source type: Newspaper ISSN: 07393504 ProQuest document ID: 39402538 Text Word Count 469 Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com.silk.library.umass.edu:2048/pqdweb?d id=39402538&sid=4&Fmt=3&clientId=2724&RQT=309&VName=PQD Abstract (Document Summary) Two potentially significant downtown building projects a retail and office building and a parking garage with a five-story building atop it -- remain in their early stages since being proposed to the city last fall. Full Text (469 words) Copyright Hampshire Gazette Feb 15, 1999 NORTHAMPTON -- Two potentially significant downtown building projects a retail and office building and a parking garage with a five-story building atop it -- remain in their early stages since being proposed to the city last fall. And they show little sign of movement in the near future. In September, developers Matthew Pitoniak and Charles Bowles won the Planning Board's blessing for a site plan to construct a four-story, 27,000-square-foot office and retail building on Pearl Street where it meets Pleasant Street south of downtown. When contacted recently, Pitoniak said he has no immediate plans to begin construction. In fact, any construction that does occur will only take place after he has lined up prospective tenants for the building. "We've had a lot of interest, but we're looking for the right tenant," Pitoniak, referring to the eventual occupant of the 7,000-square-foot retail space on the first floor of the proposed building. That tenant, he said, would be one that has the financial wherewithal to maintain a long-term lease for the space. "Where we're stuck is on the first floor and having a solid tenant for the first floor," said Pitoniak. Pitoniak said he is hopeful that the project will proceed to the construction phase. He said when he entered into the plan, he gave himself six to 10 months to find the right tenants for the building. "Either it will work or it won't," said Pitoniak. "If it doesn't, I suppose we'll ultimately sell the property." Asked if construction might begin this summer, Pitoniak responded, "I wouldn't hold your breath." In October, developer Jeffrey P. Dwyer, of East Lempster, N.H. -- and formerly of Northampton -- approached the city's Parking Commission, proposing to build a three-level parking garage topped by a five-story building at the site of the city-owned Roundhouse Parking lot. Dwyer proposed to lease the air rights above the parking lot from the city for 99 years, after which ownership of the building would be transferred to the city. Dwyer in a recent interview, said he's still interested in developing the project, but has yet to have actual building plans drawn up for the city to review. At a Parking Commission meeting in October, members told Dwyer they would like to see such plans, in order for them to analyze more fully the project that he proposes. Dwyer said he is still planning to return to the city with more information. The problem he confronts as a prospective developer in downtown Northampton is a lack of available building lots. Right now, said Dwyer, to build the structure he has in mind would require purchasing an existing building and tearing it down. To do so drives up the cost of the overall project dramatically, and would force him charge a higher rent for the spaces in the building. ******** Downtown building projects on hold for awhile Buell, Jeff. Daily Hampshire Gazette. Northampton, Mass.: Feb 15, 1999. pg. B8 » Jump to full text Full text » Translate document from: » More Like This - Find similar documents Subjects: Area planning & development, Central business districts Locations: Northampton, MA, US, New England Author(s): Buell, Jeff Publication title: Daily Hampshire Gazette. Northampton, Mass.: Feb 15, 1999. pg. B8 Source type: Newspaper ISSN: 07393504 ProQuest document ID: 44925675 Text Word Count 469 Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com.silk.library.umass.edu:2048/pqdweb?did=44925675&sid=4&Fmt=3&clientId=2724&RQT=309&VName=PQD Abstract (Document Summary) Two potentially significant downtown building projects a retail and office building and a parking garage with a five-story building atop it -- remain in their early stages since being proposed to the city last fall. Full Text (469 words) Copyright Hampshire Gazette Feb 15, 1999 NORTHAMPTON -- Two potentially significant downtown building projects a retail and office building and a parking garage with a five-story building atop it -- remain in their early stages since being proposed to the city last fall. And they show little sign of movement in the near future. In September, developers Matthew Pitoniak and Charles Bowles won the Planning Board's blessing for a site plan to construct a four-story, 27,000-square-foot office and retail building on Pearl Street where it meets Pleasant Street south of downtown. When contacted recently, Pitoniak said he has no immediate plans to begin construction. In fact, any construction that does occur will only take place after he has lined up prospective tenants for the building. "We've had a lot of interest, but we're looking for the right tenant," Pitoniak, referring to the eventual occupant of the 7,000-square-foot retail space on the first floor of the proposed building. That tenant, he said, would be one that has the financial wherewithal to maintain a long-term lease for the space. "Where we're stuck is on the first floor and having a solid tenant for the first floor," said Pitoniak. Pitoniak said he is hopeful that the project will proceed to the construction phase. He said when he entered into the plan, he gave himself six to 10 months to find the right tenants for the building. "Either it will work or it won't," said Pitoniak. "If it doesn't, I suppose we'll ultimately sell the property." Asked if construction might begin this summer, Pitoniak responded, "I wouldn't hold your breath." In October, developer Jeffrey P. Dwyer, of East Lempster, N.H. -- and formerly of Northampton -- approached the city's Parking Commission, proposing to build a three-level parking garage topped by a five-story building at the site of the city-owned Roundhouse Parking lot. Dwyer proposed to lease the air rights above the parking lot from the city for 99 years, after which ownership of the building would be transferred to the city. Dwyer in a recent interview, said he's still interested in developing the project, but has yet to have actual building plans drawn up for the city to review. At a Parking Commission meeting in October, members told Dwyer they would like to see such plans, in order for them to analyze more fully the project that he proposes. Dwyer said he is still planning to return to the city with more information. The problem he confronts as a prospective developer in downtown Northampton is a lack of available building lots. Right now, said Dwyer, to build the structure he has in mind would require purchasing an existing building and tearing it down. To do so drives up the cost of the overall project dramatically, and would force him charge a higher rent for the spaces in the building. ******* Grants 1st step in 'brownfields' cleanup, reuse Judith B Cameron. Daily Hampshire Gazette. Northampton, Mass.: Apr 24, 2002. pg. B1 » Jump to full text Full text » Translate document from: » More Like This - Find similar documents Subjects: Government grants, Brownfields, Industrial space Classification Codes 8360 Real estate, 1540 Pollution control, 9550 Public sector, 9190 United States Locations: Northampton Massachusetts Author(s): Judith B Cameron Document types: News Publication title: Daily Hampshire Gazette. Northampton, Mass.: Apr 24, 2002. pg. B1 Source type: Newspaper ISSN: 07393504 ProQuest document ID: 117286354 Text Word Count 576 Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com.silk.library.umass.edu:2048/pqdweb?did=117286354&sid=4&Fmt=3&clientId=2724&RQT=309&VName=PQD Full Text (576 words) Copyright Hampshire Gazette Apr 24, 2002 NORTHAMPTON - Newly awarded state grants will be used to study the cleanup of two former industrial sites in Easthampton and Northampton for use as open space and a bike trail. In a swing through western Massachusetts Tuesday, Attorney General Thomas Reilly announced a $50,000 grant for Northampton and $25,000 for Easthampton. The Northampton grant will be used to create a plan to clean up and develop as possible open space and a bike path the former Mill River bed that stretches from the Smith College physical plant on Route 66, through downtown Northampton to the city's wastewater treatment plant on Hockanum Road. The Easthampton grant will be used to study how to convert a late-19th-century factory located behind a complex of industrial buildings off Ferry Street into open space. The grants are from the attorney general's $1.27 million Municipal Brownfields Grants program, which will finance 29 studies across the state. Intended for for study and planning, the grants will not pay for the actual work needed to make the sites usable. Brownfield sites are generally abandoned industrial or commercial properties that are contaminated. The state 1998 Brownfields Act encourages cleanup of such places through financial assistance and agreements to limit liability. The agreements between the state and property owners are overseen by Reilly, who also administers the grants. "This contamination has to be cleaned up. These are not only eyesores - they are public health hazards," Reilly said at a gathering near the former river bed near Nagle Walkway in downtown Northampton. Both Northampton Mayor Clare Higgins and Easthampton Mayor Michael Tautznik said they will develop requests for proposals for the studies, which they hope will begin in the next few months. Higgins said that the former Mill River bed was selected as a site for study as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of industrial sites and creation of open space. The Mill River was diverted from flowing through what is now Veterans Field and downtown in 1939 after severe flooding in 1934 and 1936. At the time, the river was used for dumping industrial waste. A bike path is proposed for parts of the former riverbed and will eventually link to the Norwottuck Rail Trail near the Coolidge Bridge to the east as well as link in the west to the Manhan Rail Trail proposed in Easthampton. Eventually, the bike trails will also connect to the existing Northampton Bike Trail. The link to the Easthampton bike path would be made by using part of the riverbed and former rail trails near Route 10. The Manhan Rail Trail is expected to be built this year. The riverbed, overgrown with weeds and brush, runs near the Roundhouse building, which was once used as a coal gasification site where studies have confirmed pollution. "This is here. We know it needs to be cleaned up," said Higgins. Tautznik said the site in Easthampton, which is owned by the city, is a factory that softened thread used when the textile industry flourished. He said the site is near the Manhan River floodplain and will become open space near the bike path. Tautznik said the building must be razed and the land cleaned before the public can use it. "The site will be open to public activity like it never has been before," Tautznik said. He said that the scientific assessments are needed to learn exactly what pollution is on the site and how it can be removed or contained. ******** City selling prime lot, Projects pitched for Round House parcel BY DAN CROWLEY STAFF WRITER [ Originally published on: Thursday, July 13, 2006 ] http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=71300812006 NORTHAMPTON - A prime downtown parcel in the Round House parking lot could soon hold a hotel and restaurant or a five-story office building, according to two proposals submitted to the city City officials Wednesday opened bids for proposed developments on the one-acre site, which is located in the Central Business District and just south of Main Street at the rear of Pulaski Park. 'Both of these are great projects,' said Wayne M. Feiden, director of the Office of Planning and Development, which has spearheaded the project. Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, of Ludlow, has proposed building a 100-room hotel and restaurant on the parcel. The group owns and operates several other hotels in the region, including The Hampton and Quality Inns in Hadley, and Howard Johnsons in Springfield, among others. Robert G. Curran, Jr., of Miami Beach, Fla., and the current owner of the Roundhouse building, has proposed developing a five-story office building in the lot with 7,000-square-feet per story. Three stories would be located above Pulaski Park. In its requests for proposals, the city asked bidders to provide an array of financial details to determine the overall benefits and revenues to the city. For example, the city asked how much each developer plans to pay for the property at closing, and how much projected property and other taxes it would receive over the next 10 years. The city plans to calculate the benefits of each project based on a formula that takes into account various development features. They include expanding Pulaski Park by 30 feet, providing Internet access for the park, building a public-access elevator, adding additional parking, and others. The developers must replace any parking that is lost in addition to providing parking for their own use, according to the city's development guidelines. The bids show that Curran, of Tryumph Management Corp. has proposed paying the city $750,000 at closing with $1,037,401 in tax revenues to the city over the next 10 years. The company's total projected bid package is $2,592,401 in benefits and revenues to the city. Curran is traveling out of the country and could not be reached for comment today. Pioneer Valley Hotel Group has proposed giving the city $1 at closing; $632,987 in real estate and $911,114 in hotel occupancy taxes, with a total benefit package to the city of $1,649,102 over the next decade, according to city planners. A representative from the hotel group was unavailable for comment today. Feiden said the city is reviewing the proposals carefully and cautioned about drawing conclusions based on the preliminary figures in the bids. 'Until we look at these in more detail, it's dangerous to compare them,' Feiden said. The parking lot is an official 'Brownfield site' because of contaminants discovered in the lot years ago, primarily coal gasification waste. The area would need to be cleaned before development can take place. 'There are still challenges for the developer,' Feiden said. The city has received state and federal money in recent years to help identify the magnitude of the contamination and who is responsible. The site is currently under the purview of Bay State Gas, which is responsible for the cleanup, and formerly belonged to Northampton Gas Light Co. Feiden said the city has been trying to identify a use for the site for more than 20 years. He said the cleanup is expected to kick into high gear in January when the Round House parking lot will be shut down for about four months. Dan Crowley can be reached at dcrowley@gazettenet.com. ********* Hotel gets bid - Private firm has chance to build on public land By BOB DUNN Staff Writer [ Originally published on: Saturday, July 29, 2006 ] http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=72900912006 NORTHAMPTON - The city will invite a Valley company to build a 100-room hotel on public land a stone's throw from Main Street. A lot of folks visiting Northampton are staying in Hadley, Mayor Clare Higgins said Friday, in selecting one of two remaining bidders. Higgins said that by allowing a private company to build in the Roundhouse parking lot area, the city stands to receive $1.48 million in payments or other benefits over 10 years. What's more, a new hotel will let the city recapture lost hospitality business, the mayor said, 'especially on weekends when rooms can be hard to find.' The winning bidder is the Pioneer Valley Hotel Group of Ludlow. It proposes to develop a hotel with conference space, a 60-seat restaurant and a 236-space parking structure, according to the group's president, Shardool Parmar. 'It's a great feeling to be able to do something for Northampton and to be a part of Northampton,' Parmar said. Through the deal with the Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, the city estimates it will receive $497,000 in property taxes over the course of 10 years, along with another $864,000 in occupancy taxes in that time frame. The project requires the developer to pay $100,000 to expand Pulaski Park by 30 feet. The land in the Roundhouse lot area is located behind Pulaski Park, to the south of Main Street and City Hall and the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence. The deal calls for the hotel group to pay $1 for the property. The group owns four hotels in the Valley: The Hampton Inn and Quality Inn, both in Hadley; a Howard Johnson's in Springfield; and a Comfort Inn in Ludlow. ********* Planning chief outlines hotel's benefits for council By ERIN FUCHS [ Originally published on: Friday, August 18, 2006 ] http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=714 Northampton -- Northampton's Planning Director Wayne Feiden explained at the City Council Meeting Thursday why the city plans to sell the Roundhouse parking lot area to the Pioneer Valley Hotel Group of Ludlow for only $1. A hotel would ultimately bring more life, and revenue, to downtown Northampton than a parking garage -- the other proposal for Roundhouse -- would. ''The hotel is the biggest benefit to the city,'' Feiden said. Pioneer Valley Hotel Group plans to build a hotel with 236 parking spaces, a space for conferences, and a restaurant, the group's president, Shardool Parmar, said previously. The proposed hotel is behind Pulaski Park, south of City Hall. Tryumph Management Corp., which proposed building the parking garage, originally bid $750,000, $749,999 more than the Pioneer Valley Hotel Group did. ''A hotel is great for downtown, but $750,000 down is really appealing,'' said Feiden, acknowledging that it was not easy to choose between the two proposals. But he encouraged the community to look at the bigger, more long-term picture. Feiden distributed 20-year projected property tax charts, which showed that the hotel would have to pay higher taxes than the parking lot. ''A hotel is worth an additional $1 million to the city,'' he said, adding that a hotel could bring some life to an area that, while close to Main Street, is sometimes a little empty at night. ''There's going to be more people coming and going,'' said Michael Bardsley, an at-large city councilor. That's good news to Feiden, who said he's often reluctant to bring his 10-year-old daughter to Pulaski Park late at night because it's a ''dead'' area around that time. He also said the hotel will actually make the usable part of Pulaski Park bigger, filling an extra 30 feet around the perimeter with soil. If everything goes as planned, construction of the hotel would happen quickly, Feiden said. ''It's a very aggressive time schedule,'' Feiden said. They might even break ground by next spring or summer, according to Feiden. ''If they're building at night,'' said Mayor Mary Clare Higgins, ''it might be quicker than that.'' ******** >Opinion Worth noting [ Originally published on: Friday, August 25, 2006 ] http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=1120 In our opinion, the City of Northampton has made the right choice in accepting a bid to build a 100-unit hotel on part of the Roundhouse parking lot behind city hall. The hotel development offers multiple benefits for Northampton. A competing bid from a firm that wanted to build an office building would have brought the city an immediate $750,000 from the sale of the land. The hotel group offered $1. However, there is no shortage of downtown office space and there are better places -- notably Hospital Hill -- to locate an office building. The long-term economic benefits from the hotel outweigh the short-term gain from offices. Pioneer Valley Hotel Group of Ludlow will develop the hotel, with conference space, a 60-seat restaurant and a 236-space parking garage. The city estimates it will receive $497,000 in property taxes over 10 years and $864,000 in occupancy taxes. In addition, the developer will pay $100,000 to expand Pulaski Park so the hotel's main entrance can face Main Street through the park. This should encourage hotel guests to spend time at downtown shopping, dining, or entertainment establishments. There are now 110 spaces in the Roundhouse parking lot -- 78 public and 22 private spots for Roundhouse Plaza. The garage to be built underneath the hotel will have capacity for guests and still result in a net increase in available spots. Details are yet to be worked out, including cleaning up the site, which once housed a coal gasification plant. Bay State Gas is responsible for removing hazardous materials from the property. The hotel developers appear anxious to begin, and the city planning office is working closely with them to get the project moving quickly. This is the kind of public-private cooperation we like to see. ****** Hotel plan for Roundhouse lot gains first permit By JAMES F. LOWE Staff Writer [ Originally published on: Saturday, October 28, 2006 ] http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=13950 NORTHAMPTON - A proposal to build a new hotel behind Pulaski Park perched above the Roundhouse parking lot downtown cleared its first hurdle Thursday night. Behind the proposal is the Ludlow-based Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, which currently operates four hotels, including the Quality and Hampton inns in Hadley. 'The only question,' said architect Mark Darnold of the Berkshire Design Group, 'is whether we feel a hotel is an appropriate use at this location.' With an unanimous vote to issue developers a special permit, the Planning Board indicated its sense that it was, though additional permits for the plan in greater detail still need to be obtained. The city put out a call to local hoteliers to develop the public land earlier this year, and Pioneer Valley Hotel Group was the winning bidder. Darnold said the hotel would have 100 rooms and would include a 300-space parking garage, a restaurant and a roughly 4,000-square-foot function room. The hotel's main entrance would be located on the same level as the current parking lot, with a second entrance opening onto Pulaski Park above. Pioneer Valley Hotel Group President Shardool Parmar said he expected construction to take about one year after the project is approved. The group gave the first glimpse of its plans just days after another big development in the local hospitality business: the sale of the 106-room Hotel Northampton to its manager, Mansour Ghalibaf, and his business partner, Tony Murkett. Members of the Planning Board Thursday were upbeat about the prospects for a second hotel in the center of town. Board member Paul Voss said traffic is typically at its worst in Northampton around graduation time, but that an added hotel could cut down on congestion by making it easier for Smith College students' families to stay closer to campus. 'The worst weekends could get better with a facility like this,' Voss said. Darnold said officials at the college were already enthused about the hotel proposal. If done tastefully, said Bill Pastore, who has an apartment at 28 New South St., the hotel could be a boon to the downtown area. However, he warned against allowing it to gain too much influence over the park, which he said is an important gathering place for the community. Pastore and Mary Chapin, who also has an apartment at 28 New South St., expressed reservations about the loss of parking spaces in the Roundhouse lot and the size of the proposed hotel's parking garage. 'I worried that maybe it's too big for this space,' Chapin said. ********* >Opinion In Our Opinion: An economic boost [ Originally published on: Monday, October 30, 2006 ] http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=14209 There was good news for downtown Northampton last week. The Hotel Northampton has been purchased for $11.8 million by a business partnership that plans to upgrade service on top of recent improvements at the 116-year-old city landmark. With another developer planning a new hotel at the Roundhouse parking lot, Northampton stands to get an economic boost by improving its ability to draw tourism-related business to the downtown area. The Hotel Northampton was purchased by Mananto Holdings, a joint venture of Mansour Ghalibaf and Tony Murkett (LINK http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=13216). Both have been involved with the hotel for 14 years, Ghalibaf as general manager and Murkett as a representative of the previous owners. This will provide stability as the inn goes through its latest transition (LINK http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=13573). The hotel, located at 36 King St., has had its share of ups and downs over the years. The hotel first opened in 1927 - a major event at the time that drew 4,000 local residents for a tour of the inn's facilities. Business soared during World War II when the Navy used it to house and feed female officers who were trained nearby at Smith College. In the 1970s, though, the hotel suffered from a failure to adjust to a changing market as well as neglect by a series of out-of-town owners; in 1979, the inn portion of the hotel was shut down. In 1981, though, it benefited from a strong community effort as 13 lenders - including banks, the Northampton Development Corp., Smith College and the owners of the Gazette - provided the necessary financing to help two developers buy the hotel. It was sold once again before falling into bankruptcy, where it languished for three years until it was purchased by Norwegian businessman Egil Braathen in 1992. He and his wife remained the owners of the Hotel Northampton until its purchase by Ghalibaf and Murkett. More recently, the hotel has been undergoing a series of improvements. They include construction of the seven-room Gothic Garden structure on Gothic Street behind the hotel, installation of a new firefighting sprinkler system and new security features, and the addition of wireless and wired Internet services. The hotel has 106 guest rooms, a ballroom with several smaller meeting rooms, the Wiggins Tavern restaurant and the Coolidge Park Cafe. Meanwhile, the city Planning Board has given initial approval to plans by the Ludlow-based Pioneer Valley Hotel Group for a 100-room hotel in the Roundhouse parking lot behind City Hall (LINK http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=13950). It will also offer conference space, a restaurant and a 236-space parking structure, which will serve guests and also replace the existing parking that will be lost. If all goes as planned, this new hotel will further strengthen Northampton's position in the competitive tourism market. A community's health is often reflected by the vitality of its downtown area and the willingness of business people and lenders to invest in it. The two hotel developments are signs of confidence in the downtown and promise to be assets to attract visitors and additional business, which in turn means tax revenue for the city and job opportunities. It is welcome economic news. *********** City sued over Roundhouse lot proposal By KIMBERLY ASHTON Staff Writer [ Originally published on: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 ] http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=17502 NORTHAMPTON - A Florida company that claims it was wrongly passed over in its bid to develop the Roundhouse parking lot is asking a judge to stop development of the property and order that Northampton reconsider the proposals. Tryumph Management Corp., of Miami Beach, Fla., has filed suit in Hampshire Superior Court against both the city and the winning developer, Pioneer Valley Hotel Group of Ludlow. A hearing on the request is set for Monday. In its suit, Tryumph claims that the city didn't follow its own standards when it awarded the contract to Pioneer. The city's official call for proposals stated that they would be evaluated partly on a demonstration of 'the greatest financial return to the city over the next 10 years ... (which) shall be calculated by the combination of initial purchase price, property tax, other locally collected taxes (but not user fees), plus credit for certain optional and required improvements.' Tryumph, which owns the Roundhouse building, offered $750,000 for the parcel and proposed to build a five-story building with about 20,000 square feet of office space on three stories, two stories of parking, and a one-story, elevated parking deck over the rest of the existing lot. Pioneer offered $1 for the parcel and submitted a plan to build a parking garage, a 100-room hotel and a restaurant. Tryumph claims the city improperly calculated the property and occupancy taxes revenue each project would generate, wrongly calculated the credit to be given for the parking spaces included in each plan, judged the submissions on criteria not put forth in the formal request for proposals (RFP) and didn't publish notice of its decision in a central register, explaining the reasons for its decision. Wayne Feiden, the city's planning director, disputes the premise of the suit and says the city followed the request for proposals. 'We think we followed all the standards to the letter,' he said Tuesday, adding that everything was open and transparent in relation to the city's decision to go with Pioneer. 'Clearly, that $1 bid is worth a lot more to the city in the long run,' Feiden said. The city also considered the financial resources of each company in determining who had the better chance of going through with the project. The RFP came with many escape clauses for the developer, he said. Also, the city felt a hotel would generate more revenue. 'There are a lot of vacancies in office buildings now,' Feiden said. One of those empty office buildings, as of late October, is Tryumph's own Roundhouse, he said. For now, the suit will not slow the lot's development. 'At this point we're still going forward until a court tells us we can't do something,' Feiden said. Mayor Clare Higgins declined to comment on the suit, saying only, 'Our attorneys will deal with it, and we think we did the right thing.' City Solicitor Janet Sheppard was out of town and could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Lawyer Elaine Reall, who is handling city business in her stead, declined to comment on the suit. *********** Judge ponders challenge to hotel project By KIMBERLY ASHTON Staff Writer [ Originally published on: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 ] http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=18241 NORTHAMPTON - The city Monday defended its decision to award the contract for building a hotel and garage in the Roundhouse lot to a Ludlow-based hotel developer, while the losing bidder asked a judge to stop the project. Hampshire Superior Court Judge Bertha D. Josephson issued no decision after hearing arguments on both sides. Nor did she say when she would issue a ruling on the matter. Tryumph Management, of Miami Beach, Fla., appeared before Josephson Monday afternoon seeking a preliminary injunction to stop the city and Pioneer Valley Hotel Group from moving forward with the project. A lawyer for Tryumph contends the city improperly and unfairly evaluated the two developers' proposals. Springfield lawyer Peter Barry told Josephson that Tryumph's proposed office building would have generated about $1 million more than Pioneer Valley's proposal for a hotel. He also maintained that the city miscalculated the value of each developer's bid by crediting Pioneer Valley with $10,000 for improvements to Pulaski Park despite no proposal to improve it; by improperly evaluating the tax revenue each project would generate; by calculating occupancy taxes for the hotel using a 60 percent occupancy rate despite Northampton having an average hotel occupancy rate of 40 to 57 percent; and by not taking into account the 30 additional parking spaces, worth a $300,000 credit, included in Tryumph's plan. City Solicitor Janet Sheppard countered Barry's argument by saying that by law the city doesn't have to accept the developer who offers the most money and that it can, and did, take other factors into consideration, like the amount of empty office space Northampton already has. "That's not what the city is interested in having - another office building," Sheppard said. Later, Barry addressed that point and said, "If the city wanted a hotel, it should have said so." He accused the city of not playing by the ground rules it set. Sheppard pointed out that the contract was awarded in July and that only now is Tryumph raising an issue with it. "The plaintiffs have been sitting on their hands for four months," she said. Meanwhile, the city has been moving forward, putting money, time and effort into the hotel project. The site will be excavated in January and if it is found to be contaminated, it would have to be covered right away to limit environmental harm, she said. Construction on the hotel is slated to begin in June. "That's why it's critical this injunction is not issued," Sheppard said. Pioneer Valley's lawyer, Marwan S. Zubi of Springfield, said his client has invested $115,000 in the project since the contract was awarded and has passed up other opportunities to buy hotels because they had the Northampton project. Zubi said the hotel would be worth $6 million and that construction would cost $16 to $20 million. Besides, he said, the city said in its Request for Proposals that it would come to its own conclusion about the value of each project, and it considered each firm's financial and technical resources, brown fields experience and other work. ********* Court rules for city in hotel case By KIMBERLY ASHTON Staff Writer [ Originally published on: Thursday, November 23, 2006 ] http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=18495 NORTHAMPTON - A judge Tuesday knocked down a challenge to the proposed hotel project in the Roundhouse parking lot. Saying that Tryumph Management 'offers no supported allegations of arbitrary or capricious decision making or bad faith by the City,' Judge Bertha D. Josephson denied Tryumph's request to put an immediate halt on the lot's development. In Hampshire Superior Court Monday, Tryumph's lawyer, Peter H. Barry, argued that the city improperly and unfairly evaluated the two developers' proposals. Tryumph, of Miami Beach, Fla., had offered to buy the parcel for $750,000 and to construct an office building on it. Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, of Ludlow, had offered $1 for the lot and proposed to build a hotel on it. The city decided that the hotel was the more valuable project. Besides, City Solicitor Janet Sheppard argued, the city doesn't have to accept the proposal that offers the most money. Josephson agreed and wrote in her decision, 'there is nothing in the common law or General Laws requiring a municipality to transfer land to the highest bidder.' The law requires that the city determine 'the most advantageous proposal from a responsible and responsive offeror,' according to the judge. City Planner Wayne Feiden said he was very pleased with the decision. 'We're not at all surprised, because we know we followed all the rules,' Feiden said. 'We know we did the right thing as far as a bid. We searched high and low for bidders.' Feiden said the hotel project will continue to move forward. Excavation of the site is scheduled to begin in January. Barry could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Although the preliminary injunction was denied, Tryumph can still go forward with a lawsuit against the city. One of the reasons the city turned down Tryumph's bid is that there are already empty offices in town, Feiden said. One of those is the Roundhouse building itself, which Tryumph owns. Feiden said that despite the lawsuit, he still wants to work with Tryumph to find tenants for the Roundhouse building, which he called 'a beautiful space.' ************ 'Smart growth' recognized: Honored projects include cohousing, Hospital Hill plan BY ANDREW HORTON STAFF WRITER [ Originally published on: Thursday, January 25, 2007 ] http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=26689 AMHERST - Local architects are earning praise for their innovative approach to cooperative-style housing developments. The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission honored architectural firms in Amherst and Northampton for creating new neighborhoods at the first Pioneer Valley Smart Growth Awards last week at Holyoke Community College's Kittredge Center. The awards are a collaboration of the Massachusetts Institute of Architects, the Valley Vision Development Council, and the PVPC to encourage alternative methods of planning neighborhoods that promote smart growth, which includes so-called green construction, protecting the environment by conserving energy, reducing pollution and encouraging alternative methods of commuting. Catherine Miller, principal planner for the planning commission, said the awards are a way to promote development that goes beyond the realm of traditional subdivisions. She said the idea to honor local architects, builders, and developers grew out of her discussions with Valley Vision Development Council Chairman Brad Campbell. Winners received bronze plaques to display at each development. Miller said that this year's Smart Growth Awards was a success, and that the PVPC would like to see more innovation in the coming year. "With an area like the Pioneer Valley, we want to acknowledge development that considers affordable housing, facilitates alternative modes of transportation, and protects the environment," Miller said. "We hope that continues next year." Miller pointed to Rocky Hill Cohousing, one of this year's Smart Growth Award winners for protecting environment, conserving energy, and reducing pollution. The development, planned by Coldham & Hartman Architects of Amherst, has 28 small houses on a 7.5-acre parcel in Florence. The Rocky Hill development features a common house for dining, entertaining, guest rooms, child care space, shared exercise space, and space for working on crafts and hobbies. Chief architect Bruce Coldham said having a common house leaves less of an ecological footprint than traditional developments. "The average home offers much more space (2,500 square feet) than is essentially needed, and that extra space puts a drain on utilities and excess energy costs," Coldham said. "With the use of a common house, residents can cost utility costs by sharing space while still having their own private space to come back to." In addition, residents of Rocky Hill Cohousing agree to heat their units by methods that save on utility costs. The development offers residents a bike path so they can commute to downtown Northampton for work, shopping and dining. Parking is also centrally located, so those commuting to work have to walk to their cars. "When we developed Rocky Hill, we thought of different possibilities that allowed for residents to use alternative ways to get back and forth to work; one is by foot, and the other is by bicycle," Coldham said. Winning this year's Smart Growth Award for traditional neighborhood development was Kraus-Fitch Architects Inc. of Amherst for work in planning the Pioneer Valley Development, a 32-unit community in Amherst that, like the Rocky Hill development, has a common house at the center of the neighborhood. Constructed in 1994, the development leaves a small ecological footprint; using only six acres on a 22-acre site. The neighborhood also has a large cycling and walking community, and they collectively make the trip to the local food co-op each week. Laura Fitch, an architectural partner of Kraus-Fitch, said she is pleased by the PVPC's recognition of smart growth housing. "Basically, it confirms what we have already known, that cohousing as a whole is growing in popularity," Fitch said. The city of Northampton also won a Smart Growth Award for its planned Roundhouse downtown revitalization project involving a proposed 14,000-square-foot hotel and 24,000-square-foot parking garage. According to Northampton City Planner Wayne Feiden, the proposed five-story, 100-room hotel will be adjacent to a 300-space parking lot. Feiden noted a number of smart growth benefits associated with the hotel project. He said the building would be built on a site that contains contaminated manufactured gas waste, which would be cleaned before construction begins. And, he noted, since the hotel would be centrally located in downtown Northampton, there would be no need for long car trips along the busy corridors of Route 9 and Interstate 91. "For the last 10 years, a majority of the area's hotels have been built along Route 9 in Hadley, and people have to do a lot of driving on Route 9 just to get to where they want to go, whether it be Northampton or Amherst," Feiden said. "With this hotel, all trips to downtown Northampton could be made by foot, eliminating the need for cars." Feiden said the project would also minimize the ecological footprint left by construction by expanding Pulaski Park by 35 square feet. The hotel, which is being designed by Russell & Dawson Architecture and Engineering of East Hartford, is expected to begin construction this summer, according to Feiden. The hotel will be built by Pioneer Valley Hotel Group. Also winning a Smart Growth Award were the city and Dietz and Co. for work on a planned mixed-use development called the Village at Hospital Hill, on a 160-acre site along Route 66 in Northampton. It will include 207 housing units, as well as space for light industrial, commercial, and office use, all within a mile of downtown Northampton. Architect Mark Sternick said he thinks the planned development won a Smart Growth Award for its proposed mix of affordable housing, office and light industrial space, without disrupting the local environment. "A lot of the land will be left green, and we want to leave as much of the existing ecological attributes as possible," Sternick said. ************ >Business Area Property Deed Transfers [ Originally published on: Monday, February 26, 2007 ] http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=31293 The following real estate transfers were filed with the office of Marianne L. Donohue, County Register of Deeds, during the week ending February 16, 2006. <parsed> William D. Grinnell to Roundhouse LLC, 32 Conz St., $1. ***************** Cleanup on way: Bay State Gas Co. to put $2 million into Round House lot BY DAN CROWLEY STAFF WRITER [ Originally published on: Friday, March 16, 2007 ] http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=33696 NORTHAMPTON - A long-awaited hazardous-waste cleanup in the Round House parking lot is scheduled to begin within two weeks - a project likely to bring nuisance odors and shut down most of the municipal parking lot for at least three months. 'We've been working on this for seven years,' said Wayne M. Feiden, director of the Office of Planning and Development. 'We're cleaning up 150 years of industrial history.' The Round House lot, off Old South Street, is an official 'Brownfield site' because of contamination discovered in the lot years ago, primarily coal tar and oil. Construction of a new 100-room hotel, restaurant and 300-space parking garage is waiting in the wings, but the site must first be decontaminated because concentrations of coal tar underground violate the state's hazardous-waste regulations. The site is currently under the purview of Bay State Gas Co., which is responsible for the cleanup. The property formerly belonged to Northampton Gas Light Co., which operated a manufactured gas plant (Northampton Gas Works) from 1856 to 1951. The company eventually merged with others to become Bay State Gas Co. The city earlier obtained the Round House lot, including the former gas plant, from Bay State Gas Co., and adjoining property from Massachusetts Electric Co., now known as National Grid. The former plant manufactured gas for lighting, heating and cooking, but the process of gasifying coal into gas created a very thick coal tar residue, much of which was released on the site. The cleanup of the lot is expected to last three to four months and cost Bay State Gas Co. an estimated $2 million, according to the company. The work will involve removing coal tar and oil wastes, particularly in buried remnants of old underground tanks, according to Bay State Gas. The coal tar was once in a more liquid state, but 'now it's sort of a paste,' Feiden said. The project also involves removing and replacing 3 feet of soil off the top of the Round House parking lot, and repaving the lot. The work is expected to emit odors resembling mothballs or roofing tar, said Sheila Doiron, a spokeswoman for Bay State Gas. 'It's a non-toxic level,' Doiron said. Bay State Gas officials said they will conduct air monitoring to ensure that air emissions from the remediation do not pose health hazards. The company has hired environmental contractors and also is setting up a hot line soon for residents to call if they have concerns about odors or want updated information about the project. Seeking to redevelop the site, the city seven years ago embarked on an environmental assessment of the Round House parking lot with the help of a federal grant. In 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency discovered the coal tar waste, and the city later notified Bay State Gas Co. that it was responsible for the contamination. 'There are three underground hot spots where we know there is some pure product there,' Feiden said, in interviews this week. 'They have to dig down 17 or 18 feet to get this stuff.' Feiden said most of the waste is believed to be very deep, but there are places where the coal tar is close to the surface. 'There are always going to be surprises when they go through this work, ' he said. 'It's a challenging job. They may find more when they go through there.' The three so-called 'hot spots' are near the Roundhouse building, which is currently vacant. Feiden said most of the odors emitted by the cleanup will be associated with work at these three locations. One of those spots will include an area 60 feet wide and 20 feet deep, Doiron said. Feiden said Bay State Gas Co. plans to lease the Roundhouse building during the length of the project, and most of the parking lot will be closed during the cleanup. Doiron said Bay State Gas has been working with William A. Letendre, the city's parking chief, to determine how many parking spots in the Round House lot will be available during the project. The lot is popular among city employees, though Letendre said only 50 spots may be available at the rear and south side of the lot when the job begins. 'It may fluctuate,' Letendre said. 'A lot of this depends on what they find in the ground. They may start digging it up and find that it's worse than anticipated.' He added: 'It's not going to be fun. There are going to be times when we are short of parking.' City employees park for free in the Round House lot, though Letendre said they are not allowed to park for free in the E. John Gare III parking garage downtown, which means they will need to use other municipal lots if they choose to drive to work. In seeking the cleanup, Feiden said the city wanted to ensure that any future Department of Public Works employees and others would be protected from potential exposure to the coal tar waste if they needed to do utility work or sought to develop the site in the future. The Ludlow-based Pioneer Valley Hotel Group received a special permit from the Planning Board last year to build a 100-room hotel at the site, along with a restaurant and 300-space parking garage. The group is still working on engineering and designs, and plans to construct the hotel later this year. However, Feiden said the city must first negotiate an agreement with Bay State Gas Co. regarding any future liabilities at the site. 'They can't break ground until we have this settlement agreement with Bay State Gas,' he said. Doiron said that in addition to paying for the cleanup, Bay State Gas is providing the city with up to $250,000 for any remaining cleanup work that may be necessary in association with the development of the hotel. *********** Man sues city over lot work By RACHAEL HANLEY Staff Writer [ Originally published on: Saturday, May 05, 2007 ] http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=40807 NORTHAMPTON - A Florida man filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the city of Northampton, alleging that work on the Round House parking lot has diminished the value of his rental property. Robert G. Curran, Jr. of Miami Beach, is seeking $750,000 in damages from the city, as compensation for taking land in the Round House parking lot on 260 Main St. that belonged to him and was used by tenants of his abutting Roundhouse building. The suit alleges that the city has taken away his easement rights and his right to park 22 vehicles on the parcel. "The remediation, demolition and construction activities on the parcel constituted taking Mr. Curran's property for public use in that it has deprived Mr. Curran and his lessees of the use of his easements for parking and vehicle access," the suit reads. Wayne Feiden, director of the city's Office of Planning and Development, said the city offered Curran temporary parking spaces, and also to relocate the easements, though Curran rejected the city's overtures. Curran's suit seeks $750,000 in damages, which happens to be the same amount Tryumph Management, also of Miami Beach, offered to purchase the parcel when the city put the project out to bid last year. The successful bid was awarded to Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, of Ludlow, which offered $1 for the lot and proposed to construct a new 100-room hotel, restaurant and 300-space parking garage there. Last year, Tryumph Management filed a preliminary injunction to stop work on the hotel project. A judge denied that injunction in November, saying the challenge was unsupported. The suit was dismissed against the Pioneer Valley Hotel Group in December; charges against the city continue, with a pretrial conference scheduled for June 2009. The Round House lot has been deemed an official "Brownfield site" because of contamination of such substances as coal tar and oil. A hazardous-waste cleanup by Bay State Gas Co. - expected to last at least three to four months and cost $2 million - includes removing 3 feet of top soil and repaving the lot. Work began in March and is concentrated near the Roundhouse building, where three of the most significant contamination spots were located. When work on the site began, city officials said the neighboring Roundhouse building was vacant and would be leased for the duration of the clean-up by Bay State. Curran's lawyers Peter H. Barry and J. Michael Scully, of Springfield, could not be reached for comment. ********* Round House cleanup a tough (and smelly) job By DAN CROWLEY Staff Writer [ Originally published on: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 ] http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=44826 NORTHAMPTON - Odors caused by the hazardous waste cleanup under way in the Round House parking lot are expected to continue occasionally throughout June, though project leaders say the worst of the vapors should be gone by the end of this week. Located off Old South Street, the Round House lot is an official "Brownfield site" because of contamination discovered in the lot years ago, primarily coal tar and oil. The property formerly belonged to Northampton Gas Light Co., which operated a manufactured gas plant (Northampton Gas Works) from 1856 to 1951. The company eventually merged with others to become Bay State Gas Co. Private developers are planning to construct a new 100-room hotel and 300-space parking garage in the lot, but the site must first be decontaminated because concentrations of coal tar underground violate the state's hazardous-waste regulations. Though a city-owned site, Bay State Gas Co. is responsible for the estimated $2 million clean-up. The work has been stinky at times, with a mothball-like odor permeating areas of the downtown, including at night. "There have been relatively few days with bad smells, but there have been some," said Wayne M. Feiden, director of the Office of Planning and Development, who has worked closely with Bay State Gas Co. on the project. Feiden also said considering that some of the work was done during hot weather, "the smell is a lot less than we thought it would be." "There may be some spotty odors people may notice at night," said Sheila Doiron, a Bay State Gas Co. spokeswoman. Any dangers? A state Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman said that "to date, it appears that Bay State Gas Co. has taken necessary precautions and has been responsive to complaints." The environmental firm, Haley & Aldrich, is monitoring air quality, which includes testing for dust particulate, volatile organic compounds, specifically benzene and naphthalene. Doiron said the readings are posted weekly on the chain-link fence in the Round House lot. Tor, of the state DEP, said that the benzene and naphthalene concentrations have not reached hazardous levels. "The remediation of coal tar wastes will always generate some concentrations of odors," Tor wrote in an email. "The odors themselves are not indicative of a hazardous condition." Tor noted that recent nighttime odor complaints have prompted Haley & Aldrich to sample air from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. last week and this week. The results are expected to be available within a week or two, and will be posted on the fence, according to Haley & Aldrich. Doiron said eight truck loads of hazardous material were hauled away Monday to a facility in New Hampshire. Crews will continue to remove coal tar waste from the largest area containing deposits, located adjacent to the Roundhouse Building this week. Once the coal tar and hazardous soil is removed, Bay State Gas Co. plans to move onto its next phase, which involves removing and replacing 3 feet of soil off the top of the parking lot, and repaving the lot. Dan Crowley can be reached at dcrowley@gazettenet.com.