AMHERST — Bare and washed-out soil with exposed tree roots and 1960s-era tree boxes made from railroad ties dominate the landscape of the North Common, despite its prominent place between Town Hall, the Town Common and one of the main business rows.
This deteriorating area could begin changing this spring, when Town Meeting will be asked to appropriate $360,000 from the Community Preservation Act account, to supplement $190,148 previously appropriated, to undertake renovations.
The North Common is part of $1.67 million in projects, along with $303,408 in previous commitments through debt and $250,000 that will be set aside to the affordable housing reserve, that the CPA Committee recently recommended to Town Meeting, said committee Chairwoman Paris Boice.
Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek said that the design of North Common should begin this year and be ready for construction sometime in 2018, if Town Meeting approves the spending next month.
Before the project happens, both the Leisure Services and Supplemental Education Committee and Historical Commission will hold meetings to gather input and ensure that doesn’t compromise events, such as the weekly peace vigil and the annual Veterans Day and Merry Maple celebrations
Other spending endorsed includes the $500,000 that would go toward the spray park, new playground and pavilion at Groff Park, which is needed after the state turned down a Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities grant.
Also recommended are $75,000 to preserve the 10.4-acre Cole property at the base of the Mount Holyoke Range; $125,000 for the 3-acre Kieras property on Russellville Road near the Hadley town line; $150,000 to redo the pool filter system and pumps, and refurbish basketball courts, at Mill River Recreation Area; and $25,000 to complete a historical structures report for the Jones Library. The Jewish Community of Amherst will get $244,683 to fix the steeple damaged by a lightning strike.
The CPA Committee turned down requests from Craig’s Doors: A Home Association, Inc. for $282,000 to promote supportive housing for five people over a three-year period, and $262,000 from Amherst Community Connections for its “housing boost” program that provides rental subsidies to 10 people.
Boice said there were too many unanswered questions about the town’s liability, as well as funding for supportive services, such as necessary counseling. CPA rules don’t allow this money to cover those costs.
“The committee acknowledged that this was an extremely difficult decision as it affects a population in our town which is in need of this service,” Boice said.
Other projects include $50,000 to complete a master plan for Community Field and playing fields at the high school and middle school; $50,000 for restoration of headstones in the 1870s section of West Cemetery; $30,000 for upkeep on conservation land; $8,980 to do a review of costumes and textiles in the Amherst History museum’s collection; $20,000 to hire part-time staff for the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust; $20,000 to do “due diligence” for future conservation land buys; and $10,000 to repair and rehabilitate the historic Ingram farmhouse at the North Amherst Community Farm.
But the Amherst Woman’s Club withdrew a request for $60,000 to replace two wooden fire escapes and porch roof at its Triangle Street headquarters, and the town will also not be asked to fund the Hampshire Council of Governments, which requested $318,906 to assist with the Hampshire County Courthouse renovation project.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.