By Phil Demers
North Adams Transcript
ADAMS -- While work at the Greylock Glen continues to progress, town officials and Greylock Glen Advisory Committee members are focused on securing funds and planning the subsequent stages of what must be a multipronged project.
The committee met for a two hour session Thursday, receiving updates from contractors and engineers before segueing into a discussion of goals and potential roadblocks in developing one of the town’s most-esteemed properties.
Engineer Brent White, of White Engineering, went to bat first, reporting the completion of 40 to 50 percent of the new sewer and 20 percent of new water lines at the site.
"We’re on schedule and doing a great job," White said. "I think [the project] is in great shape at this point."
White said 2,000 linear feet of sewer and roughly 1,200 linear feet of water lines have been laid along Gould Road and Thiel Road, the Glen’s major transportation routes.
Contractor Dudley Billings, of D.R. Billings, the company heading up this round of infrastructure repairs after bidding $1.29 million, said work will continue along Gould Road to West Road in the next several weeks.
"We would like to be out of there before Thanksgiving, with the exception of going back up in the spring and doing some planting," Billings said.
The work is being funded by $2 million set aside for the project in Gov. Deval
At the meeting, Director of Community Development Donna Cesan reiterated her hope that the entire infrastructure project will be covered by additional grants.
"We’re trying to piece together funding to implement this project in what will most likely be multiple, multiple phases," Cesan said. "We’ll be applying for the remainder in MassWorks funding and we’re hoping to cover the entire [$4.3 million] cost," Cesan said. "[The applications] for this second round of grants will be accepted from August until the first week of September, so town staff will be working with [the Glen committee] to apply."
Infrastructure work comprises repairs and repaving on Gould and Thiel roads, including gas, water and telecommunications upgrades along this stretch and is considered the first "phase" of the larger Glen development hopes. Officials think the completion of this phase will lead to further development opportunities, with lodging, a campsite, an educational center and an amphitheater at the site being the final goal. Investments of private capital would be necessary to see this vision realized, and officials believe steady development is the best way to achieve significant outside interest.
According to Ed Whatley, of Vanasse Hangin Brustlin, the development company spearheading infrastructure repairs at the site, work on the gas lines -- also included in this initial phase -- is scheduled to begin in six weeks and will "piggyback" with the other ongoing repairs.
To reach Phil Demers, email pdemers@thetranscript.com.
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