Holyoke Health Center seeks $225,000 to replace boarded historic windows and support downtown revitalization
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Summary
Holyoke Health Center asked the CPA for $225,000 to replace boarded, deteriorated windows on the Tilly Charles (Child's) Building as part of a larger Steiger/Tilly Charles rehabilitation that will support clinical services, workforce training and downtown revitalization; the front‑facing windows alone are estimated at $211,000.
Alejandro Parsapels, CEO of Holyoke Health Center, presented a $225,000 CPA request to restore and replace boarded historic windows on the Child's Building (part of the Steiger/Tilly Charles complex) and explained the work is central to a larger adaptive‑reuse effort to expand clinical services and workforce training in downtown Holyoke.
Parsapels said the largest line item is replacement of front‑facing facade windows, estimated at $211,000; rear window work is estimated at $8,000. The application includes $3,000 for a historic consultant to support tax‑credit compliance, $1,000 to meet CPA signage requirements and $2,000 contingency, for a total project budget of $225,000. Parsapels noted the center serves more than 24,000 patients and emphasized long‑term stewardship: the health center will assume responsibility for maintenance of the windows.
The presentation covered project timeline and funding strategy: schematic design was completed, the team is in design development and expects construction documents in early 2026 with construction administration and window replacement targeted July 2026–September 2027. Parsapels said the organization is pursuing state historic tax credits and new market tax credits and may sell tax credits via a broker in a pass‑through arrangement to realize construction funding.
Committee members probed feasibility and contingencies. Members asked whether windows could be phased if CPA funds are limited; Health Center staff said their project timeline and other funding sources make doing all windows at once preferable so the facade will be completed by September 2027. Members also asked about asbestos testing; Health Center staff said window glazing tests were negative and asbestos findings were concentrated around pipes and partitions; remediation bids have been solicited and remediation is anticipated to proceed in March.
The CPA did not vote on the request during the presentation; the application will proceed through the committee’s FY26 review and additional local approvals (Historic Commission, City Council) may be sought as the project advances.
