Council grants Wayfinders temporary license to fence construction site and use part of library lot

The Holyoke City Council on May 6 granted a temporary license to Wayfinders and its contractor to fence a historic building site across from the library and to use part of the library parking lot for staging and a mobile office.

The Development and Government Relations committee recommended the license unanimously after reviewing a plan that includes safety fencing, use of half the library lot for equipment storage and a temporary mobile office, and coordination on alleyway access. Committee members said Wayfinders obtained permission from the library and DPW and that the project team would continue to coordinate with adjacent property owners because ownership of the alley is split between neighbors.

Councilor Gibner, who reported the committee recommendation, said the project aims to rehabilitate a historic building and add apartment units. “They will...put a fence around the building that they're gonna be working on,” Gibner said, explaining that the fence is for public safety and that sidewalks and alleyway management were part of the approvals before DGR.

The council approved the license by roll-call vote and asked staff to ensure any required agreements with neighboring property owners are obtained before construction expands into shared alley space. The license allows Wayfinders to start initial site work, stage materials, and place a temporary work unit on the portion of the library lot that Wayfinders and the library agreed they could use.

The approval is limited to a temporary license for construction staging and does not substitute for required building permits or longer-term property or land-use approvals. The project team told the committee the end goal is a rehabilitated, occupied building with repaired sidewalks and site improvements.