HADLEY — Concepts from private developers for reusing the vacant Russell School building in town center are being accepted until mid-December.
Town Administrator Carolyn Brennan this week put out the request for letters of interest seeking initial ideas for adaptive reuse of the 10,613-square-foot building, on a nearly 2-acre site, at 131 Russell St., the southwest corner of Routes 9 and 47.
“The town is seeking redevelopment partners who recognize the unique opportunity to bring new life to this rare building that occupies a highly visible, park-like site along Route 9 in Hadley’s village center,” Select Board Chairman David J. Fill II wrote in the advertisement.
The former public school, constructed in 1894, was last used on a regular basis by Northstar Self-Directed Learning for Teens, which left in June 2015 for Sunderland. The building was an elementary school for Hadley children until 1996.
By putting out the advertisement, the town can learn what kinds of possibilities exist and potential partners, with a request for proposals to follow in early 2021. No future municipal use is envisioned, with sufficient space available at Town Hall and the Goodwin Library for town offices. Estimates are that a full-scale renovation of the building would cost in excess of $20 million.
The advertisement suggests that redevelopment of the site could potentially include senior housing, affordable or market-rate apartments, a non-profit school or childcare center or commercial office space. Russell School is in the business zone and village center and senior housing overlay districts.
Being listed on the State and National Historic Register, the building could be eligible for preservation funding assistance, state and federal historic tax credits and affordable housing tax credits. In addition, restoration of the building, particularly stabilizing and repairing its exterior, could be eligible for town Community Preservation Act support.
Letters of interest are due Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. and must be delivered to the Select Board, 100 Middle St., Hadley, 01035.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.