Gardner staff seek $824,624 for Phase 6 downtown improvements on City Hall Avenue

City staff told the Gardner CDBG steering committee on Jan. 20 that a Phase 6 downtown improvement project on City Hall Avenue (Connors to Pleasant Street) is seeking $824,624 in CDBG funds for sidewalks, crosswalks, curb repairs, streetlighting and accessibility upgrades.

The staff presenter said the project fits the CDBG national objective of eliminating slum and blight and that a prior inventory identified many items in fair condition. "We will need to reevaluate this and see if the lighting could be included if we were to go forward with this project based on it being in good condition," the presenter said, noting the lighting may be eligible if it can be shown to meet the inventory and national-objective criteria.

Staff asked the committee to allow time to update the city’s inventory and send revised materials to the state reviewer (EOHLC) so eligibility for lighting or other items can be confirmed before the application is finalized. They said the application will be tentatively available Feb. 17 and that municipal submission must meet the state’s April deadline.

Committee members asked about timing for the updated inventory and whether urban renewal area designations—some more than 10 years old—should be revisited as part of prioritizing projects. Staff said they would revise the slum/blight sheet and push the update to the state reviewer ahead of the Feb. 24 continuation meeting.

Next steps: staff will prepare a revised inventory and eligibility memo, seek procurement quotes where required, and return with updated figures and a recommendation at the Feb. 24 meeting.