WESTFIELD – Site work will begin next week for construction of a new 20,000-square-foot senior center on Noble Street.
The council also took immediate action last night to acquire the estate of Mary Noble for construction of a new facility. That project is expected to be financed with a bond of between $6 million.
At-large Councilor James R. Adams asked his colleagues to suspend their rules, which typically require several meetings to approve an order taking property, and take immediate action to approve the order authorizing the city to acquire real estate for construction of the senior center.
Adams said that the city is acquiring the property from the Westfield Housing Authority for $1 dollar. At-large Councilor David A. Flaherty donated the dollar for that transaction.
The council’s action is the last step in a process that required a court decision because Mary Noble left her property to the Housing Authority for the benefit of senior citizens.
A probate judge ruled in March that the use of the Mary Noble estate for construction of a senior center is consistent with the intent of Noble’s will that the land be used for the benefit of senior citizens. Judge David M. Fuller of the Hampden Probate and Family Court issued his decision on March 21.
The city asked Fuller to clarify language in Noble’s will that her property, located on Noble Street, be used for the benefit of senior citizens and if construction of a senior center satisfies that requirement. Fuller found that “Construction of a senior center on the Property comports with the general charitable intent of Ms. Mary A. Noble.”
Fuller stated in his decision that the city and Housing Authority “may deviate from the terms of the Last Will and Testament of Mary Anngenette Noble in order to construct a senior center on the Property.”
The city has retained Diversified Project Management Inc., of Newton, to serve as the Owner Project Manager (OPM). The OPM is selected early in the project and assists the city in selecting a design architect, and eventually a building contractor.
The city selected two firms, working in collaboration, to design the new center, retaining Dietz & Company Architects of Springfield which is teaming up with Courtstreet Architects of Newton, which has designed several senior centers constructed recently in the state.
Adams said that the project engineers “wants to go in there Monday and start site work by taking borings” to determine the soil conditions which will determine what support structure is needed for the two-story building.
Adams said that the Law Department will be filing the deeds for the property next week as well.
The Council approved the land acquisition by a 12-1 vote. The single “nay” vote was cast by Ward 2 Councilor Brian Winters, in whose ward the facility will be located.
