State Awards Adams Funding For Middle School Roof
Staff Reports
03:27PM / Monday, September 16, 2013
ADAMS, Mass. — The town was
awarded $600,000 from the
federal government to begin fixing
Adams Memorial Middle School.
On Monday, the state announced
the grant through the federal
Community Development Block
Grant reserved program that will
fund the replacement of 34,000
square feet of roof. The town is
hoping to fix up the gymnasium,
auditorium and administrative
office areas of the building and
temporally reuse it.
Since the middle school was
merged with the renovated
The vacant school is set to receive a new roof.
Hoosac Valley High School, town
officials entered negotiations with saucemaker Ooma Tessoro's and the Youth Center to lease that
section of the building. However, the process was slowed for the town to assess the required
infrastructure repairs needed for the short-term reuse.
An engineer provided estimates the town was comfortable with but the roof remained a big-ticket
item. In the end, town officials hope to renovate at least some of the building and develop a long-term
reuse plan; the state's contribution now provides the means to begin renovating the property.
"This grant funding will be of great benefit to the Adams community. The reuse of the school will add
value, for many reasons, and importantly because it is located at the gateway to the downtown," said
state Rep. Gailanne M. Cariddi in a prepared statement.
Previously Director of Community Development Donna Cesan proposed allocating $20,000 additional
to hire an architect for the renovation — the first expenditure on capital repairs for the school.
"I want to thank the Patrick administration for understanding the importance of this investment in
Western Massachusetts," said state Sen. Benjamin Downing in the statement. "The town deserves
great credit for developing a successful application that will help reuse the building and better meet
the needs of the community. I look forward to the day when the old memorial school building is a hub
of community activity again."