WESTFORD — The Town of Westford recently received two state-issued grants for study and redevelopment of select parcels in Graniteville.
Gov. Maura Healey announced $164 million in grant awards for 161 communities on Oct. 25.
“One Stop is a vital economic development tool to spark growth, spur development, and strengthen local economies across the state. These funds will help make possible community-led projects that build vibrant downtowns and unlock economic potential in every region of Massachusetts while creating new jobs, housing, and opportunity,” Healey said in the announcement.
12 North Main St.
Westford received a $250,000 Brownfields Redevelopment Fund award to remediate and redevelop the abandoned mill property at 12 North Main St.
Discussions on the redevelopment of the site began in 2015 when a Task Force was formed to “evaluate potential reuse scenarios for the property” and “evaluate the potential options and make a recommendation to the town for plans that would benefit the community.”
An online survey was later conducted to residents on redevelopment options for the property, with options such as a town park, residential or commercial use, or an industrial use.
The Select Board later disbanded the Task Force in 2021, with remediation of the property ongoing.
In June the town received a $500,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to rehabilitate the property.
The town has already used a portion of $378,250 in Community Preservation Act funds to stabilize the building and begin remediation, as well as $305,000 in Mass Development funding to complete an environmental site assessment and perform hazardous material clean-up.
Housing Choice Grant
The town has also received a $190,000 grant from the Housing Choice Grant Program to explore off-site sewer options and to conduct a market study to assess redevelopment on select parcels in Graniteville.
Officials will soon seek proposals to hire a consultant to “analyze wastewater treatment challenges” and identify opportunities for properties in Graniteville to “accommodate development options.”
Earlier this summer, residents were invited to participate in a workshop to discuss redevelopment of the Graniteville neighborhood.
WestfordCAT reported on June 28 that a number of residents expressed frustration at the lack of walking space and the dust gathered from the mill, with Westford resident Bob Waskiewicz stating that “they [Graniteville] shouldn’t have to put up with that.”
He added that, “everybody who lives in that area knows what I’m talking about…Everybody’s breathing in that dust. Kids, asthmatics, people with health conditions, you name it…That’s a problem that needs to be cleaned up.”
Some, like Sustainability Coordinator Sue Thomas, suggested that the mill become a space for mixed-use development.
“It looks like it could be a really delightful spot for people to linger if we’re cleaning up for a coffee shop or a restaurant or some sort of walking space there,” she said.
For other parcels like Graniteville Materials, some residents in attendance supported renewable energy development on the southern portion of the parcel, with the northern space remaining open for a potential trail system.
