[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6268632,"mediaKeyId","3051923-69ee43e61ff47af3e6df9c696944fe61","parentId",3051923,"title","Gardner City reviews timetable and options for School Street School, Greenwood Pool and 205–213 Main Street demolitions","audioSeconds",1360,"startMs",659000,"endMs",2019000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3051923-69ee43e61ff47af3e6df9c696944fe61&start=659&end=2019","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3051923-69ee43e61ff47af3e6df9c696944fe61/thumbnail_659000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6268632/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Gardner-City-reviews-timetable-and-options-for-School-Street-School-Greenwood-Pool-and-205213-Main-Street-demolitions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268632-6f5fb11ea43abc5d08dbe9ab7efdd982/orig.mp4?Expires=1770446914&Signature=Vjm2exqi2GEoqvkXOSF86ub66AU6KCYXvZKrlo5sngbOzB3zK-PJVtv3FXdpHjeqSM9xIw~rri1tsfv4qbYGw7OwQbINSfPtlS4TC~4Sz6TybxLBhV1IE~-zymkxViVlYjqgwdiwojqoPj4YArIX11dKVYfxtbAKo-twAS0hWg07YWE2eXDOpbYzf-QW0hiVbNtvokIHn39cD0fgi6YmCUK2hXAbuRzst0O2X4S5WkLbI80P8tAfKiIZwvKgLAwIMKtl9CKGUi0cfKHAhaWQ-jGc6DTApXrSXa0lSTQ7AFGGu9KBgP-E2zpX6PN6wHT04dB601hjDAb3QSE2EqwRRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gardner City, MA","date","2025-04-18T16:47:04.9Z","article","City staff updated the Community Development Block Grant steering committee Friday on the status and next steps for several CDBG-funded infrastructure and demolition projects, including the School Street School parcel, the Greenwood Pool and the 205–213 Main Street building.

School Street School parcel: release of FY2024 funds and title review
City staff said the city has received the state release of funds tied to FY2024 and can begin committing money to projects. The committee heard a detailed update on the School Street School parcel: the city council previously voted to declare the property surplus, and the city’s legal department is reviewing title and any restrictions on the parcel before the city proceeds. Staff said the executive office has connected the city with potential developers and asked the city to take a \"last look\" for rehab potential before proceeding with demolition.

Staff identified a demolition figure in discussion (stated as $740,000 in one exchange) and said that demolition would free up an additional $90,000 in the FY2024 application for reassignment. At the hearing staff also used the figure $750,000 in related comments; staff urged the committee that, if the legal review indicates sale for housing is plausible, the committee would be asked to select replacement projects or submit a revised notice to the council. \"If they determine based on that opinion, it's better to just go with the demo, then they'll advise us to just go forward with the demo,\" the staff member said.

Why it matters: the School Street site is a candidate either for demolition or for last-minute redevelopment into housing; state policy prioritizing housing opportunities has led the EOHLC to ask municipalities to look for potential rehab opportunities before demolishing older structures.

Greenwood Pool demolition schedule and salvage
Staff reviewed the Greenwood Pool bidding schedule: the project was posted to the central register on April 3, bid documents were posted April 9, and a pre-bid meeting was held April 17 with several contractors attending. Bids are scheduled to open April 24 at 3 p.m. in the purchasing department (the staff member said the opening will be streamed on the city's YouTube channel). After contract award staff said abatement would precede demolition, and contractors will attempt to complete major demolition work before the swim season begins June 18; debris removal might continue afterward.

The staff member said the city is coordinating with the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the historical-commission contract identifies small architectural elements to salvage (the front desk fixture, a copper cupola and the pool sign were specifically mentioned). The contractor plans to erect a tall, non‑see-through temporary fence (described as roughly 8–10 feet) around the demolition area.

205–213 Main Street: abatement complete, demolition imminent
Staff reported the abatement process at 205–213 Main Street is complete, and groundwater testing returned clean results allowing discharge. The contractor will begin demolition next week, starting with the Willow Street side of the structure; city staff said the contractor is coordinating traffic control with the Gardner Police Department.

FY2022–23 grant closeouts and social services
Staff said social-service contracts for FY2022 and FY2023 have mostly been closed out and funded, except for the Boys & Girls Club, which still needs to submit invoices and LMI participant documentation before the city can reimburse the organization. \"They know what they need to send me. It's just a matter of getting it at this point to cut them the check,\" the staff member said.

Meeting close
The committee adjourned by motion and second at the end of the session; no formal roll-call vote totals were provided in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gardner Commuity Development Block Grant Steering Committee Meeting Apr 18 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Committee heard updates on multiple CDBG‑funded infrastructure projects: legal review and potential sale versus demolition for the School Street School parcel, bid schedule and abatement plan for Greenwood Pool, and abatement completion with imminent demolition at 205–213 Main Street.","taxTitle","Gardner City, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",60679,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6268637,"Gardner City submits $850,000 CDBG application for FY2025; allocates social-service awards",98,70000,168000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3051923-69ee43e61ff47af3e6df9c696944fe61&start=70&end=168","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3051923-69ee43e61ff47af3e6df9c696944fe61/thumbnail_70000.jpg","/articles/6268637/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Gardner-City-submits-850000-CDBG-application-for-FY2025-allocates-social-service-awards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268637-a9e8c1c8183e2f9ce86801c1130e94b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770446914&Signature=gSaIQQyLN0YEAhcYahlO-aHzMof9GpX1G8~uDrQcQ6FKC~R8UuGXYtPKXWXNX8uIrVijxKOAfzUzdz-y0nbjyw2zsRc6e4exGk6F9iQPKENdq1jP7NJbujL9GFhWm2ta8w8b0QjvYS13SuH~p4vczeXu3BXXGUjKpsRROd3FJF605yrblqSaCIMlQzuWrRNis4gsKYCRlRHSUTnBg4DENf3eH42JI7iuAvbx2rzyKq8FrqninDI2LbFVx~Zg-7Q0ht3Ltcdn4H5pmUMIUl2Ty496gFgcPLJJSRoanvo6vDknAd2yCb6idyM2AOCLH2AlM374IpSCaXmCZtrfwMdhDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gardner City submitted a Fiscal Year 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application last week requesting $850,000 in CDBG funds, city staff said Friday at a public hearing in the Manka Annex at Gardner City Hall.

The application bundles several infrastructure proposals and social-service awards. The proposed infrastructure projects include Downtown Phase 5 construction and design, design work for a School Street School parking lot with an accessible walking path to Jackson Park and the skate park, and installation of a fire/electrical system at the Waterford Street Community Center. Social-service allocations in the submission cover domestic-violence prevention, food assistance, veterans outreach, student athletic fee relief and emergency housing services.

City staff said the CDBG request totals $850,000; with other non‑CDBG funds identified by applicants, the combined total cited in the application materials is $890,000. The application was submitted to the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) for review. \"This is my first time submitting this. I know it takes some time,\" the staff member said, describing the submission and the expected state review timeline.

Why it matters: CDBG awards fund a mix of capital and social-service activities for communities that meet federal Low- and Moderate-Income (LMI) thresholds. If Gardner’s application is approved and funds are released, the projects and service providers named would be eligible to receive grant payments and begin program work.

Details of selected projects and awards listed by staff at the public hearing:
- Downtown Phase 5: sidewalk and infrastructure work on Willow Street and Rum Square and a small section of Main Street in front of the former road-building site.
- School Street School: design for a parking lot with an accessible walking path to Jackson Park and the skate park (design funding requested).
- Waterford Street Community Center: installation of fire and electrical systems (project described as infrastructure work).
- Voices of Truth (domestic-violence prevention): general operating/support funds for program activities (amount not specified in the public explanation).
- Gardner Community Action Committee (food pantry): funding to create a community-outreach position; staff said a $50,000 salary will be covered by a $30,000 CDBG award and a separate $20,000 match from partner sources.
- Gardner Athletic Program user‑fee program: CDBG funds to cover school athletic user fees so students do not pay; staff said the program covers all Gardner Public School sports except hockey (the staff described current user fees as typically $100 per sport, with hockey at $500).
- Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center: staff listed a total request of $30,000 to support food-bank and outreach work (breakdown 20,000/10,000 cited during discussion).
- Gardner Emergency Housing Mission: funds to support rental assistance and related services for families experiencing homelessness (amount not specified in the public explanation).

Staff described next steps: EOHLC will review the application for consistency with the CDBG national objectives and issue a list of any \"special conditions\" the city must meet before funds are released. Projects with estimated CDBG costs above $250,000 will need an environmental review under CDBG/HUD rules; staff said the downtown phase project could trigger that review and that the city will coordinate with the Massachusetts Historical Commission as required.

Staff committed to providing more detail on partner match funding and the specific breakdown of non‑CDBG sources at a subsequent meeting. The application remains subject to the state review process and any conditions the EOHLC identifies.","City staff told the Community Development Block Grant steering committee that Gardner City submitted an $850,000 FY2025 CDBG application that would fund downtown infrastructure and social-service programs; the state review and environmental checks remain next steps.","actionData","errors"]

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Gardner City reviews timetable and options for School Street School, Greenwood Pool and 205–213 Main Street demolitions

Gardner City submits $850,000 CDBG application for FY2025; allocates social-service awards