GREENFIELD — The Senior Center Building Committee will unveil alternatives for a new senior center at tonight’s Town Council meeting — plans intended to reduce the project’s cost and in so doing to sway councilors who refused to fund a $4.75 million version it last month.
Mayor William Martin said he would not disclose the estimated cost of the new plans before the meeting, but said the building’s size has been reduced and the amenities and accessories that were not critical have been removed. During its March meeting, Town Council rejected funding the original $5.25 million plan as well as an amended amount of $4.75 million, citing the price tag as well as a lack of multi-use options. However, council Vice President Isaac Mass filed a motion for reconsideration the following day, allowing the council to revisit the vote this month.
“We did not sway from our goals of having a very energy-efficient building, a very pleasing atmosphere and environment inside and outside, but we’ve limited our exterior work to just what has to be done with paving and parking,” Martin said. “We’re not going to dress up that whole lot, that will have to come some time later.”
The location is on the site of the former Davis Street School, most recently used as the Greenfield School Department’s administrative offices. The old two-story brick structure would have to be razed.
Martin added the new plan also removes fixtures and furnishings from the project. Martin said the town will develop some sort of fundraising effort to pay for them.
“I know everyone’s making compromises. Nobody likes to be part of something that isn’t the best,” he said.
The Senior Center Building Committee saw preliminary alternative plans for the building several weeks ago after the initial funding was rejected, but it’s unclear whether those plans have changed, and if so, how significantly.
However, Martin said he thinks the council will approve funding for the updated plans, as they address not only the cost but the purpose of the building.
“I think that’s been explained over and over again. It’s a community center, everybody can use it. Nobody is going to live there, but everybody can use it,” he said. “We would expect with the extra work and attention given to this alternative plan, that the council would approve it.”
Some concerns were raised at the last council meeting about spending $5 million for a building dedicated to a single constituency. Since then the mayor has noted the project has always incorporated a multi-use room for community use.
Town Council will reconsider its vote during its meeting today at 7 p.m. in the GCTV studio, 393 Main St.