Notes of upcoming events:
The next Control Board meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, August 21 at Springfield City Hall in room 220. A public comment session will be held at 10:30 am, followed by an open session meeting at 11:00 am.
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(WASHINGTON) Congressman Richard E. Neal will take a walking tour of the new $17 million State Street Corridor Redevelopment Project at 9:45am on Tuesday, July 1st, beginning at St. Michael’s Cemetery and ending at Riverfront Park on the Connecticut River. He will be joined by Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Executive Office of Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen, Luisa Paiewonsky, Commissioner of the Massachusetts State Highway Department, and Wayne E. Phaneuf, Executive Editor of the Republican and a local historian. During the walk, Neal will be greeted by representatives from businesses and institutions that will benefit from the improvements of the project. He will also stop to note historic landmarks and planned improvements like the $70 million Federal Courthouse, and new lighting, plantings and landscaping. At 10:30am, he will participate in a groundbreaking ceremony in front of Roger L. Putnam Vocational-Technical High School.
“State Street is a remarkable blend of cultural, governmental, educational, religious, corporate and residential properties. It is home to some of Springfield’s most significant and stable institutions. These anchors attract thousands of people to the corridor each day to create a vibrant urban boulevard. I strongly believe the $17 million project will be a model for community revitalization. It will also help celebrate the many strengths and enduring qualities of our city,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal.
The State Street Corridor is 3.2 mile urban boulevard running east to west from Berkshire Avenue to East Columbus Avenue. Construction will begin in July 2008 and will be completed in 2010. In addition to the new federal courthouse, the redevelopment project will address the physical conditions and transportation issues on Springfield’s most important thoroughfare. Changes will include improved traffic flow for the estimated 29,000 cars that travel it on a daily basis, improved safety and transportation for pedestrians and bicycles, innovative parking and improvement to lighting and aesthetics. The vision of the project is to create a renewed State Street with strong visual appeal that will act as a front door to neighbors, key institutions and employers.
State Street has played a significant role in Springfield’s history. Some of its famous travelers were Paul Revere, George Washington and Colonel Henry Know who dragged cannons from Fort Ticonderoga in New York to aid in the start of the Revolutionary War in 1776. In 1905, George M. Hendee moved the Indian Motocycle Company to Mason Square, which is also the birthplace of basketball and the home of the last freed slave in 1808. It also played host to the Underground Railroad. Other notable locations along State Street include MassMutual Insurance Company, American International College, Springfield Technical Community College, Springfield Armory, and Gunn Hall where, in 1856, a meeting was held to discuss Indian Orchard secession from Springfield. The site of Shay’s Rebellion, Wesson Hospital, St. Michael’s Cathedral, Alexander House, the Court Square Theatre and the Springfield Library and Museums at the Quadrangle are also located on the corridor.
Congressman Neal welcomes the entire community to join him for the tour of the State Street Corridor Redevelopment Corridor Project.
CONGRESSMAN NEAL WALKING TOUR OF STATE STREET
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
9:45am
St. Michael’s Cemetery
Springfield, MA
STATE STREET GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
10:30am
Roger L. Putnam Vocational-Technical High School
1300 State Street
Springfield, MA
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