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HRA discusses Beyond Walls lot activation on High Street; raises questions about agreement party and fund flow
Summary
The HRA reviewed a proposed activation/management agreement with Beyond Walls for a High Street lot, clarified roles of a lot manager and maintenance contractor, and flagged that some grant funds flow to the City rather than the HRA — prompting edits to the agreement and a plan for further review.
The Holyoke Redevelopment Authority reviewed a draft activation and management agreement with Beyond Walls to operate a publicly accessible lot on High Street and asked staff to clarify which municipal entity must sign and control grant proceeds.
The lot-activation plan covers the block between Race and Main Streets and includes programming, public art installations, seating, and a rentable events setup. Beyond Walls is supplying conex containers, public-art installations and a program that includes a June 14 community paint event. The project has secured funds from MassDevelopment and a MassGaming mitigation grant; staff said the mitigation funds were routed through the City of Holyoke rather than through the HRA.
Operational arrangements: staff and partners described a two-year use agreement with a hired lot manager who will manage daily operations and rental requests and a contracted maintenance provider for site upkeep. HRA staff said the lot manager (hired through Mass in Motion funding) will check in on a schedule, manage reservations, and coordinate with Tony Whitman, the contracted maintenance contractor. Conex boxes on-site will store rentable equipment (sound system, stage pieces, games) and access codes/keys will be issued to renters; porta-potties will be opened only for events.
Key concerns raised by board members: several members asked that references in the draft agreement to the "City of Holyoke" be corrected or clarified if the city is not a party. They also sought clarity on which organization will control and disburse grant funds (the transcript records that the mitigation grant funds were received by the City, not the HRA). Members asked staff to revisit sections naming municipal responsibilities and to clean up references to partner organizations (for example, to ensure Mass in Motion and other program partners are correctly identified). Staff said legal reviewed the draft but recommended outside counsel if the city were to sign as a party.
Community programming and partnerships: Beyond Walls and partners plan weekly programming through the summer (Monday-night events noted), artist-painted conex murals, and collaboration with nearby Lighthouse School students on site furniture (benches and picnic tables). The site is part of the Puerto Rican Cultural District and will include signage acknowledging funders and usage rules.
Next steps: staff will redraft the agreement to clarify the correct parties, specify who controls grant funds, and return to the HRA for review. The board requested a further meeting to approve a revised agreement once legal and finance clarifications are incorporated.
Ending: the board did not vote on the agreement at the meeting; staff will circulate a cleaned, redrafted agreement and seek input from the city legal and finance offices before bringing the item back for formal approval.
