Capital Campaign
Redevelopment of 6 Berkshire Ave.
THE PROJECT:
Rendering of a redeveloped 6 Berkshire Avenue Kitchen Space - by Marc Chilton Designs
6 Berkshire Avenue is an underutilized building located on the former State School property in Belchertown Ma. Currently, an embroidery business occupies the building on half of the second floor, while the first and third floors are vacant. We envision redeveloping the vacant space within the building to include a cafe and incubator commercial kitchen space on the ground floor, the existing tenant and a BCA community hub with gallery space on the second, and an anchor tenant on the third. Revitalizing 6 Berkshire Avenue fits perfectly into Belchertown's plan to reimagine and develop the former State School Property to bring economic growth to an underutilized area of town. We believe this project will bring many community organizations and departments together with one common goal: to preserve Belchertown's history through engaging in restorative justice practices and community inclusion, while engaging with our community in long-lasting and meaningful ways by facilitating the productive exchange of ideas and creating an atmosphere of compassion and acceptance, and to support economic growth in Belchertown.
Rendering of a redeveloped 6 Berkshire Avenue Café Space - by Marc Chilton Designs
OBJECTIVES OF THE REDEVELOPMENT:
1. Preserves the significant architectural heritage of 6 Berkshire by creatively adapting a beautiful, well crafted building for meaningful contemporary uses,
2. Models and promotes ‘green’ principles in urban design and community practices by choosing re-use and adaptation over the more prevalent thoughtless cycle of disposable consumption.
3. Partnering with Belchertown’s Special Education Department, providing space for vocational training and opportunities to the Transitions Program and beyond.
4. Supports Belchertown’s working arrests and cultural producers, not-for-profit communities and local businesses by providing affordable workspace, enabling them to contribute to the neighborhood and to share their passion and talents.
5. Aligns with and supports Belchertown’s official public policies. The Belchertown Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (BEDIC), in collaboration with Mass Development, are tasked with revitalizing the full potential of the State School site as a designated Economic Opportunity Area. BCA plans for 6 Berkshire further this goal by breathing life and economic activity into both the building and its surroundings.
6. Provides an important meeting place for the community by creating a dynamic, inclusive hub of activity, cultural production on and support for all.
Rendering of a redeveloped 6 Berkshire Avenue Community Space - by Marc Chilton Designs
HISTORIC LEGACY:
As one of the few buildings comprising the Belchertown State School campus to survive extensive demolition plans, 6 Berkshire holds a significant position in both the social and architectural history of the area.
The Belchertown State School for the Feeble-Minded was established in 1922. The 876-acre (3.55 km2) campus contained 10 major buildings built in a Colonial Revival style by Kendall, Taylor, and Co. and over a dozen other buildings of varying architectural merit, including a power station, hospital, kitchen block, administration building and numerous fallout shelters. The building complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
Contrary to its suggested name, the State School’s mandate did not include the education of its residents but acted rather as an institutional home for what was then referred to as the “mentally defective”. Throughout its first 40 years, the State School operated mostly without external scrutiny or government oversight. Horrendous living conditions at Belchertown were brought to light in 1971 in a newspaper article entitled “The Tragedy of Belchertown”. It became known for inhumane conditions and the poor treatment of its patients and was subject to a series of lawsuits prior to its eventual closing in 1992.
MORE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS:
Following the School’s closure, the Belchertown Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (BEDIC) purchased the now named Carriage Grove site from the state. In late 2012 MassDevelopment began working with the BEDIC to create a master plan for the site and an overall development vision. In December 2014, the town adopted a “Business Neighborhood” zoning district, which provides flexibility for mixed-use neighborhood development.
MassDevelopment, working with the community designed Carriage Drive, a 2,000 linear-foot road with associated utilities and amenities. Completed in 2019, Carriage Drive brought necessary infrastructure to support the growth and redevelopment of the property. Current business development within Carriage Grove includes Christopher Heights, an 83-unit assisted living facility which opened in 2018 and the opening of the Belchertown Day School, an early childhood education center in September of 2020. Both locations bring daily commuter traffic to the location.
For further information about 6 Berkshire’s storied history it is advisable to speak with local architectural historian, Katherine Anderson, who has recently released the book “Images of America: Belchertown State School” published by Arcadia Publishing. For more information regarding redevelopment of the Carriage Grove Site Claire O’Neil from Mass Development is the best contact.
FEASIBILITY STUDY:
Rendering of a redeveloped 6 Berkshire Avenue ground floor - by Marc Chilton Designs. See a more detailed version and the second and third floors in the Feasibility Study
In 2019 the BCA was awarded $10,000 from MassDevelopment Collaborative Workspaces grant. The BCA utilized this grant to complete a feasibility study on the 6 Berkshire Ave. Project.
The study identifies both the economic and architectural assumptions that have been used in determining feasibility. The soundness of the resulting plan has been tested to ensure that it is sustainable; capable of generating enough revenue to support operations and allow for the BCA to further develop the site and its cultural mandate in years to come. The feasibility study’s evaluation process documented in this report has resulted in a dynamic mix of uses that serves heritage preservation, community arts activity, and cultural sustainability
View the feasibility study in full here
NEXT STEPS:
The BCA is currently in the process of sourcing and hiring a construction manager to create a detailed scope of work to have a true understanding of what the redevelopment of 6 Berkshire will cost. With this estimate we will be launching our official capital campaign for 2022 to rehabilitate the first floor of 6 Berkshire Ave.
We are also looking for volunteers or future tenants that would be interested in becoming part of this project in the early stages. We need all of the help we can get to make this project a reality. If you think your business would be a good fit for this building or a volunteer that wants to help move the project forward contact us here or email us at hello@btowncommunity.org.