MONTAGUE — With the Selectboard’s vote to enter the Complete Neighborhoods Initiative, Montague has begun exploring prospective redevelopment of the Farren Care Center property.

The Complete Neighborhoods Initiative, a regional project Montague entered into on Feb. 13, provides grant funding that will help envision the site of the former long-term care facility as “a mixed-use village center,” according to the town’s proposed project scope. The Montague City Road facility, which was closed in April 2021, is slated for demolition, after which the plot of land will be loamed, seeded and given to the town.

The Complete Neighborhoods Initiative was launched in March 2022 by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership and aims to support “the creation of walkable, livable neighborhoods near transit and mobility hubs,” the organization’s website states. The partnership’s plan, as well as its associated $250,000 in grant funding, encompasses projects in Montague, Deerfield, Erving, Greenfield, Orange and Whately in Franklin County. Work associated with this regional effort is set to continue until June 2025.

“The 2013 Sustainable Franklin County plan identifies strong community support for locating new housing near jobs and transit services, and to protect agricultural land and open space,” the initiative’s “plan of assistance” describes, noting that project goals were inspired by “key regional plans and reports” formulated over the past decade. “There is also strong support for the redevelopment of Brownfields and vacant or underutilized mill buildings and other properties.”

The encompassed Montague City District Plan will “facilitate housing production,” as well as prime the Farren property and nearby parcels for a “mixed-used, walkable neighborhood along [the adjacent Franklin Regional Transit Authority] stop,” according to the work plan. Montague intends to conduct a “zoning land use and connectivity analysis … to better understand the land use potential and regulatory limitations of the area,” such as those outlined by its zoning and the Wetlands Protection Act, Town Planner Maureen Pollock told the Selectboard.

“This seems like almost a once-in-a-generation opportunity to really envision the properties currently owned by the Farren and then the surrounding parcels,” she said.

The town will work alongside Worcester-based consultant Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. to conceptualize potential uses for the cleared land. This will include exploring commercial development opportunities complementary to the focus on housing.

“It’s not like it’s going to be exclusively housing that we’re looking at eventually here,” Pollock stressed.

Pollock said she has already spoken with Montague City residents about redevelopment possibilities and she plans to continue having these discussions. So far, residents have shown great excitement over the prospect of the village’s revitalization, she said.

“The town definitely wishes to seek community engagement,” Pollock said, “which would be a big component for this project to understand what the community envisions for its center.”

Regional involvement

In addition to the Montague City District Plan, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments will “identify zoning barriers for regional housing production goals” and “develop recommendations for streamlined and predictable permitting for the region” as part of the Complete Neighborhoods Initiative.

Deerfield will conduct community outreach to plan development of a South Deerfield campus of municipal buildings and senior housing, conduct an existing conditions analysis to understand development potential and plan to improve connectivity with the Whately park-and-ride bus stop.

Erving will pursue reissuing a request for proposals (RFP) for affordable and mixed-income housing near the senior center. According to Town Planner Mariah Kurtz, an initial RFP was released by Erving’s Senior Housing Committee in 2018 and received no responses. The current draft RFP seeks 30 to 60 rental housing units, all restricted to ages 62 and over, to be installed on a 6.47-acre parcel directly behind the Erving Public Library. At minimum, 35% of the units must be affordable to households at or below 60% of the area median income.

Greenfield’s Grader properties at 156 Main St. will explore the conversion of two upper levels from commercial to residential space. In addition, the upstairs space above the Garden Cinemas will be explored for potential conversion into residential space.

Orange will conduct a visioning exercise and zoning build-out analysis for the town center. The build-out analysis will be based on recodified zoning bylaws.

Lastly, a vacant lot at 268 State Road in Whately will undergo site due diligence, including wetlands delineation and a Phase I environmental assessment. The town will also receive concept planning and RFP assistance.

Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.

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