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

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.