The project will revive and expand the defunct historic mill site in downtown Lee into a combination of office space, both market-rate and affordable rental units, a hotel, and a “public market” with multiple restaurants and food kiosks.
U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, traveled to Lee Tuesday and joined state Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield; state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox; town officials; and representatives from Eagle Mill to announce the awarding of $400,000 worth of historic rehabilitation tax credit funds.
The mixed-use development will revive and expand the historic mill site in downtown Lee. The project is expected to take at least two years to complete.
In the original plan, most of the parking for the hotel would have been across the street, which would have meant lots of hotel guests crossing West Center Street to walk to and from their cars.
The project will revive and expand the historic mill site in downtown Lee into a combination of office space, both market-rate and affordable rental units, a hotel and a "public market" with multiple restaurants and food kiosks.
In a letter to the editor, Marcia Stamell writes, "One of the fresh ideas she would implement is an even greater use of outside grants to finance town projects without increasing the tax rate."
Most of the standards the Massachusetts Historical Commission says the project would violate are technical and easily remedied. Nonetheless, as a result, MHC says the proposed project does not meet the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's standards for the rehabilitation of historic properties.
