Lenox — Congressman Richard Neal, (D-Springfield), announced on Tuesday, July 16, that the town has received $750,000 for a Town Hall restoration project.
According to a press release by Congressman Neal’s office, the allocation was made through Congressionally Direct Spending from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The project funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2023 spending bill that was signed into law on December 29, 2022.
“A town hall holds a prominent place in a community’s downtown, representing the cornerstone for public discourse and the nexus for local governance,” Congressman Neal is quoted as saying in the press release. “In a community like Lenox, whose history pre-dates the Revolutionary War, the town hall represents an institution with which generations of residents identify. I was pleased to partner with State Representative Smitty Pignatelli to further the Town Hall restoration project. This funding will help preserve and maintain this historic building, ensuring it can continue to serve the residents of Lenox for years to come.”
The Town Hall was built in 1901, and according to Congressman Neal’s office, the restoration project will include:
- Repairing and restoring the deteriorating dome;
- Re-shingling the roof and exterior painting;
- Addressing extensive water damage in the rotunda;
- Installing more modern, energy-efficient lighting fixtures;
- Replacing the flooring and sound system in the auditorium; and
- Improving the handicapped accessible ramp.
