SHELBURNE FALLS — The former Mole Hollow Candle building is among the places now being considered for a larger senior center to accommodate the growing over-age-60 populations in Ashfield, Buckland and Shelburne.
This week, Douglas Field, chairman of the Ashfield Council on Aging told the Ashfield Selectboard that the Senior Center’s Expansion Committee has asked Mihiel family members if they would be willing to sell the building for use as a senior center.
The Mihiels, who bought it from Mole Hollow founder Peter Curtis in 2012, are interested in the senior center proposal, and discussions have begun, Field said.
If that 8,000 square-foot building near the Glacial Potholes became a senior center, said Field, part of the L-shaped upper floor could be leased as store space, generating revenue for the senior center. The present senior center provides about 3,400 square feet of space, he said, but most of the parking is available at either the town lot behind Bridge Street, or behind the Arms Library.
According to Field, the Mihiels asked who would own the building and how would it be paid for.
“Currently, the former Mole Hollow building is not for sale, but we did approach (them) to see if they’re willing to sell,” said Senior Center Director Cathy Buntin. “We’re in discussions, in an initial conversation phase of determining whether or not they’re willing to sell.”
“We’re also working very closely with the Senior Center Foundation, to see what (money) could be raised, as well as how much would be town supported,” she said.
In the past year, the Expansion Committee has considered at least 21 sites for a potential senior center. However, the former Mole Hollow building, a one-time grist mill, is among the top three sites that most closely meet the Committee’s criteria, for a site that is convenient for residents of all three towns and that is in the village area, close to shops and other amenities.
A potential site for a new building would be on Mechanic Street, next to the Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School. However, part of the land needed to build there is tied up in a Land Court procedure, according to Buntin.
A third site to build on would be land near the Buckland Recreation Area, but an environmental study, costing around $10,000 would be needed to determine if a public building would be feasible there, given its proximity to Clesson Brook.
Buntin said the Expansion Committee and its subcommittees are looking at ownership models and funding sources for a new senior center. The seniors are hoping to meet with the three towns’ selectboards next month with proposals for financing and senior center ownership.