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Committee backs downtown infrastructure, selective demolition and north pathway connector as priorities
Summary
City planning staff recommended, and the committee supported, continuing downtown sidewalk, lighting and drainage improvements and funding selective demolition and phased North Pathway Connector work over multiple fiscal years.
Gardner City’s Capital Improvement Committee on April 16 recommended including downtown public-realm improvements (sidewalks, lighting, drainage) and phased construction of the North Pathway Connector in the FY26 priority list, and kept a selective demolition allowance for future acquisitions.
Jason, development and planning staff, presented the downtown infrastructure request and described phases 5 and 6 of downtown revitalization: “Broadway, sidewalks, lighting, drainage, other public realm features,” he said, and indicated requests would span FY26 and FY27. He also noted selective demolition funds were requested in case the city acquires properties tied to conditions of blight.
Why it matters: the projects form core pieces of the city’s downtown revitalization and multi-year pedestrian/bikeway connectivity plans. Committee members cited the North Pathway Connector as an important linkage toward a full connection to the Winchendon-area pathway on the other side of Route 140. One committee member said the bike path “is high on my list because it’s 1 more piece in that connection with other projects.”
Details and phasing: planning staff described the pathway as a grant-seeking, multi-section project with expensive portions (a culvert and work near a utility substation) that will require coordination with National Grid and will be phased across years, with certain sections targeted for FY28. Selective demolition funds were proposed at $600,000 for FY26 and $600,000 for FY27 as contingency resources if acquisitions arise.
Next steps: the committee agreed to include downtown infrastructure improvements, the North Pathway Connector, and selective demolition in the FY26 recommended priority list and asked staff to clarify grant opportunities and phasing in the final CIP report to the mayor and council.
Ending: Staff will update the CIP spreadsheet to reflect phased funding by fiscal year and to note anticipated grant-seeking steps and coordination requirements with utilities and state agencies.
