BERNARDSTON — Recent vandalism and some unforeseen costs at their leased facility at 199 Huckle Hill Road have led the three co-founders of Happy Valley Compassion Center to shift their attention to constructing a new medical marijuana growing facility at 87 Northfield Road.
Previously, Jim Counihan, chief executive officer of the nonprofit medical marijuana organization, said the plan was for the Huckle Hill Road building, previously the Bella Notte restaurant, to supply medical marijuana for dispensaries in Greenfield and Hadley, and the Northfield Road property to supply a dispensary in Orange. Now, Counihan plans for a 20,000-square-foot facility on Northfield Road to support all three.
Counihan said a July incident of vandalism where 31 double-pane glass windows were smashed, causing $30,000 to $40,000 of damage, and the additional costs for repairs to the roof and heating and cooling system, made the partners “consider flipping priorities.”
“From a business standpoint, we had to step back and look at does it make sense to do a retrofit of the building,” Counihan said, “or start new with Northfield Road and know exactly what you’re getting?”
The 87 Northfield Road facility, located on 7.66 acres Happy Valley Compassion Center leases from Crumpin-Fox, would involve constructing a building from scratch. Counihan said the organization is working with the town to obtain necessary building permits, and the Selectboard signed an updated letter of support for Happy Valley Compassion Center with the Northfield Road address during an Oct. 25 meeting. The Department of Public Health will need to approve the change, though Happy Valley Compassion Center has received provisional certificates of registration (PCRs) for both properties.
The current plan for 87 Northfield Road, Counihan said, is a 20,000-square-foot facility with 15,000 total square feet for growing and processing, and the remaining 5,000 square feet for bathrooms, employee locker rooms and a kitchen. Though earlier plans predicted Happy Valley Compassion Center would be able to start growing as early as this fall, Counihan estimated growing may begin next summer.
“It’s definitely pushed back,” Counihan said of the organization’s timeline, noting the construction timeline will depend heavily on the winter weather.
As for the 199 Huckle Hill Road building, Counihan said he’s unsure what Happy Valley Compassion Center’s plans are for the future, but will continue leasing it for the time being.
“We’re trying to maintain optionality,” he said. “Eventually we’ll have to decide if it makes sense to add a separate grow location or just add onto Northfield Road.”