Residents enjoy lobster from food truck Cousins Maine Lobster while attending the July 25 informal talking session about the possibilty of creating a center town district.
Reminder Publishing photo by Laura Mason
EAST LONGMEADOW — The East Longmeadow Center Town District Steering Committee hosted an informal talking session for residents at Brew Practitioners on July 25.
At the session, two local mixed-use development projects were discussed in detail by the developers and officials involved in the project. Following the presentations, residents were given the opportunity to ask questions about the projects and how they compare to potential mixed-use development in East Longmeadow. Food from Cousins Maine Lobster food truck was also available.
In addition to residents, attendees included members of the town’s Planning Board, Town Council and School Committee.
Steering Committee Chair Carolyn Ferros opened the session by explaining that the gathering was designed to continue the momentum of past meetings in an informal manner, as the committee will not be meeting during the summer.
Former Wilbraham Planning Board Chair Jeff Smith began the presentations by discussing the mixed-use development in the town’s center to create seven residential apartments, encouraging economic growth, restaurants and a revitalization of the area. To be approved, the question of whether to modify the town’s zoning bylaws required a two-thirds majority vote at Town Meeting; a bar that was successfully met after “filled” rooms of abutters and residents at the meetings prior to the decision, Smith said.
He highlighted three “ingredients” that are necessary for a successful project: “willing residents, a willing liaison, and a developer.”
For Wilbraham, the entire process took three to four years with support from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and multiple townwide educational discussions on the impacts and benefits of the zoning change, Smith stated.
Following the Wilbraham town center presentation, Holyoke real estate developer and visual artist Denis Luzuriaga presented information on his mixed-use development, the Cubit. This loft apartment building, created from a former mill, includes workspace Cubit Coworks and a rented space by the Culinary Arts Institute from Holyoke Community College, Luzuriaga stated.
Unlike the project in Wilbraham, which required a vote to change zoning bylaws to allow mixed-use development, the Cubit is located in an area of Holyoke that allows mixed-use for the redevelopment of old mill buildings, Luzuriaga said. Since its opening, the 18 units at the building have been fully rented with a waiting list that currently contains more than 450 people.
During the following Q&A session, residents and government officials asked about the process leading up to the zoning change in Wilbraham, the level of interest from Wilbraham residents to create the apartment units and the likelihood of attracting a compatible developer for any future projects in East Longmeadow.
Attendees also discussed the process of creating “reasonably priced” high density housing if a center town district is established, with multiple officials emphasizing the “dire” need for housing priced for residents such as older adults and students looking to stay in town.
The Steering Committee will be hosting another informal talking session on Aug. 15, which will follow a similar format, Ferros said. She explained that the sessions allow the committee to learn more about residents’ thoughts and concerns for the zoning change, emphasizing that no decisions have been made at this time and that the final decision would center on zoning changes, not a physical project. A survey will also be posted online,she said.
For more information about the town’s past discussions on a center town district, visit eastlongmeadowma.gov/1030/Center-Town-District-Planning.
