Development Team Chosen to Replace the Belchertown
State School Site
in Western Massachusetts with a Destination Resort Spa
� the Quabbin Resort Development
.
Belchertown, MA August 31, 2006 � Bridgeland Development
Massachusetts LLC is proud to announce the completion of a major step in
the redevelopment of the former Belchertown State School site for the new
Destination Resort Spa � Quabbin Resort Development. Top consulting,
construction management and design firms have been secured from Chicago,
IL to Boston, MA.
�I�m really excited about the team we�ve put together and honored that
they are, in turn, very enthusiastic about this unique mixed-use project,�
said Paul T. McDermott, President of Bridgeland Development Massachusetts
LLC. �We have some of the top consultants in the state that really
know the ins and outs of District Improvement Financing (DIF), Massachusetts
Environmental Protection Act (MEPA), Massachusetts Historic Commission
(MHC) and many other areas of funding, conservation, environmental and
historical issues that will certainly concern us as we bring this project
carefully to fruition.�
McDermott adds that the �team� really includes the local legislative
body, directors of the Belchertown Economic Development Corporation (BEDIC),
Town officials of Belchertown, and the Town departments that will be assisting
the Master Developer and Project Team over the next three years.
The Team Includes:
-
Paul McDermott, President, Bridgeland Development Massachusetts LLC; Chicago,
IL
-
Elizabeth Taras, Communications Director; Bridgeland Development Massachusetts
LLC; Belchertown, MA
-
The IBIS Group, Inc.; West Chicago, IL
-
Legat Architects; Chicago, IL
-
Gilbane Building Company; Providence, RI
-
Carol R. Johnson Associates Inc.; Boston, MA
-
Ford Gillen Architects; Amherst, MA
-
McCabe Enterprises; Boston, MA
-
Epsilon Associates; Maynard, MA
-
Bacon & Wilson PC; Springfield, MA
-
Scibelli & Associates Consulting
-
Thornton Tomasetti; Boston, MA
-
Judith Nitsch Engineering; Boston, MA
-
Haley & Aldrich; Boston, MA
-
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin; Springfield, MA
-
Holmberg & Howe; Easthampton & North Chelmsford, MA
Special thanks go to the Directors of the BEDIC, Town Administrator Gary
Brougham and Members of the Belchertown Select Board and other Town departments
for their extra time and attention to this ambitious and exciting project.
Bridgeland Development Massachusetts LLC will also be working closely with
local legislators, Sen. Stan Rosenberg, Sen. Brian Lees, Rep. Tom Petrolati
and Rep. Stephen Kulik.
| The project, in concept, is an $85-$100 million
mixed-use 100 acre development anchored by the Hotel Resort and Spa, a
new construction health and wellness themed facility that will overlook
the New England Small Farm Institute (NESFI) land, forested areas and the
scenic Mt. Holyoke Range to the Northwest. The project will involve a combination
of adaptive reuse and remediation of existing buildings, new construction
and extensive landscaping and overall site improvements. New uses of property
will range from the central hotel component to a wellness center, indoor
and outdoor spa and recreation facilities, an equestrian complex, small
business development opportunities, retail, restaurant and office components
and enhanced park and recreation areas that all will be able to enjoy |
Quabbin Resort Development
Anticipated Facilities and Amenities
� 200-300 room Hotel & Spa
� Conference & Banquet Center
� Hospital-affiliated Health and Wellness Center
� Sports Performance Center
� 200 Stall Equestrian Center
� Multi-Use Medical / Office Building
� Restaurants
� Boutique Retail Facilities
� Museum
� Recreational activities including miles of walking bicycling, horseback
riding, and cross country ski trails, as well as canoeing, fishing, swimming,
and tennis |
In less than a year, two independent and comprehensive Market Feasibility
Studies have suggested the Quabbin Resort Development, overlooking the
Mt. Holyoke Range and the 400-acre New England Small Farm Institute, will
be a favored destination of spa goers, families, equestrian enthusiasts,
and those wishing to enrich and improve their lives in a variety of unique
ways, both traditional and non-traditional.
Bridgeland Development LLC and BEDIC Directors signed a Memorandum of
Agreement and a Purchase and Sale Agreement in May 2006 and a development
plan is near completion for an early Fall 2006 closing. 272 acres
of the former Belchertown State School campus were sold to the BEDIC in
2002 for the amount of $10. Since that time, several acres on the
south end of Parcel B, as it is known, have been sold for local business.
The remaining 156 acres will be home to the unique mixed-use development
that will feature a 200 � 400 room resort hotel & spa, a Conference
& Banquet Center, a 200-stall Equestrian Center, a 60,000 � 100,000
square foot hospital-affiliated Wellness Center and a Sports Performance
Center as well as recreation and healing-focused businesses and attractions.
Demolition and remediation of the current site facilities is anticipated
to start in Fall 2007 with new construction slated for the early Spring
of 2008. A Grand Opening is expected in Summer 2009. A web
site is currently being constructed. Tours of the site are available
to media by appointment.
|
