JEFF DALEY
WESTFIELD – The Westfield Redevelopment Authority (WRA) took the first steps Thursday to implement the Elm Street urban renewal plan and authorized its executive director, Jeff Daley, to hire an assistant for administrative support.
Daley said Friday that state and federal grants allow up to 10 percent of the grant to be used for administrative purposes. The WRA authorized Daley to exceed the $10,000 discretionary spending limit for project management agreement purposes.
Daley has said in the past that because the funding for the Elm Street project is coming from a number of state and federal sources that the reporting requirements will be substantial. Each funding agency has its own reporting requirements.
Daley said that the WRA, through an agreement with the city, will act as the Elm Street project manager and will hire consultants as needed for different phases of the urban renewal plan implementation and project development.
The urban renewal plan was prepared for the WRA by Maureen Hayes, a Springfield based consultant, who identified a 4.88 acre renewal plan target area on both sides of Elm Street, encompass an area, roughly from the City Hotel alley to Thomas Street on the east side of Elm Street and between Arnold and Church streets on the west side of Elm Street.
The Elm Street project target area includes the 2.86 acre site off Elm Street and between Arnold and Church streets.
The proposed multi-use commercial building would be located at the corner of Elm and Arnold streets, while the 2,000-square-foot transportation facility will be constructed on Arnold Street. The project will be supported by construction of a parking garage, which could have as many as six levels to meet the parking requirements of city ordinances and will be sited off Church Street.
The size of the commercial building, which could have space for retail stores and office spaces, as well as residential space, will be determined by the private developer selected by the WRA for the project.
Daley said the administration assistant will work 10 to 12 hours a week and will need to be proficient with QuickBook , expertise needed to prepare reports to the funding agencies.
“It will not be a city employee, that person will be an employee of the WRA,” Daley said.
The WRA tabled a motion to allow Daley and the board chairwoman to execute an urban renewal plan implementation services contract. Daley said that the board released a request for qualifications and received two responses and is currently in negotiations with those vendors.
