Spending spree: See which Brockton projects are tapped for federal millions
BROCKTON — A gout of federal tax dollars would bankroll major renovations to public buildings all over the city, including $12 million for City Hall.
Mayor Robert Sullivan cautions that the allocations made so far are "fluid figures" for how the city will spend $38.59 million from the American Rescue Plan Act. ARPA is the Biden Administration program that sent $1,400 checks to U.S. households. It also contains $195 billion for the states, including $7.9 billion for Massachusetts.
Here, in order of highest cost, are the projects proposed by Sullivan and allocated by City Council. Once the projects go out to bid, numbers will almost certainly change:
City Hall HVAC $8,000,000
War Memorial HVAC $7,125,000
Senior Center Expansion $6,325,000
Cosgrove Pool $4,300,000
City Hall Exterior Upgrades $4,000,000
Sycamore Grove $2,000,000
Nonprofit Fund Distribution $2,000,000
Parks & Playground Improvements $1,840,000
Emergency Operations Center $1,800,000
Liberty Tree and Abolitionist Park $1,200,000
In addition to the $34.59 million above that's going directly to the city, Brockton has asked Plymouth County for $16 million of the county's share.
"This is only the beginning of a process of investing tens of millions of dollars in this city," the mayor said.
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The city surveyed residents — in English only, as City Councilor At-Large Rita Mendes pointed out — to see what projects they'd like the federal dollars to fund. At press time, the online survey was still open for Brocktonians to have their say. At an April 19 Finance Committee meeting, Sullivan said 229 people had filled out the survey, and that most respondents asked for park improvements.
Sullivan told City Council that he made the list after asking department heads about their needs, and checking responses to the resident survey. Department heads came back with more than $300 million worth of projects, he said.
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City Hall: $12M
The single largest project currently allocated is for City Hall, an elegant old building that city officials say requires serious updates. The plan is to spend up to $8 million to identify and plug gaps where water seeps into the 1894 edifice. Another $4 million is pegged for a Direct Outdoor Air System to bring in fresh air. This would involve new duct work and a condensing system.
Daniel Pallotta, a project manager the city has hired to oversee ARPA projects, said City Hall lacks fresh air, leading to wide temperature variation throughout.
"The building has leaks everywhere," Pallotta said.
Sullivan admitted that the big dollars for City Hall has led to some residents yelling at him.
"We have to do it," the mayor said, pointing to a visible leak in the back corner of the City Council chamber where the meeting was being held.
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War Memorial HVAC: $7.1M
The War Memorial Building on West Elm, like City Hall, lacks outdoor air. The renovations here would install an air system like the one proposed for City Hall, plus other HVAC work. Facades would get a facelift and exterior windows would be replaced altogether under this plan. Cosmetic work to the interior would be needed as well to make the other repairs possible, according to a slide presentation from the Mayor's Office.
Senior Center Expansion: $6.3M
Air circulation upgrades figure prominently in plans for a major makeover of the Mary Cruise Kennedy Senior Center on Father Kenney Way. This project would add about 3,600 square feet of programming space. The facility would be brought up to code as part of bringing in outdoor air and other HVAC projects.
Cosgrove Pool: $4.3M
Smoothing of the infamously sandpaper-like texture of the bottom of the Cosgrove Pool is just one of the benefits city officials envision for the facility. The pool, known as "the Beach" to many residents, is one of just four 50-meter pools in the state, Sullivan said.
At-Large City Councilor Moises Rodrigues urged Sullivan to think big about the pool, with a renovation that would cover the whole complex, not just the pool itself.
Sycamore Grove: $2M
A former downtown bus station would become green space, complete with outdoor dining, under the "Sycamore Grove" project. The re-imagining of this 226 Main St. space is part of some civic leaders' vision of a downtown with lively street life. City Councilor Jeffrey Thompson of Ward 5, who has been a major booster of Sycamore Grove's potential, said he'd like comprehensive parking plan done for downtown.
Nonprofit Fund Distribution: $2M
Any mayor would love the chance to give out hefty federal grants to nonprofits working in the city. That's just what Sullivan was able to do with $2 million of the ARPA money. Beginning in December, the city fielded applications from area nonprofit and faith-based organizations. Last week, the Mayor's Office announced the 41 winners. Most organizations will get $50,000 through the grant program. A grant award ceremony is slated for 1:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall. Organizations will have to prove themselves good stewards of the first round of the cash in order to receive their full allotments. Winners include the Boys & Girls Club of Metro South, the Brockton Farmers Market, Free the Captives Ministry Inc., Haitian Community Partners and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1046 Auxiliary.
Parks & Playgrounds: $1.8M
The Cosgrove Pool isn't the only recreational area earmarked for a makeover courtesy of ARPA. Another $1.8 million is being shared among 10 playgrounds and parks: D.W. Field Clubhouse, Buckley Playground, Hancock Playground, Plymouth Street Playground, Holster Playground, Bent Playground, Hilstrom Farm Park, Parmenter Playground, Tukis Playground and Otis Street Park.
Emergency Operations Center: $1.8M
The federal windfall would also fund moving the city's Emergency Operations Center from the War Memorial into the new $98 million Public Safety Complex. The new complex would house police and fire headquarters, taking up the big block bounded by Highland Street, Warren Avenue, West Elm Street and Goddard Road.
Liberty Tree & Abolitionist Park: $1.2M
This $1.3 million allocation would create a pocket park in the area where the city's famous Liberty Tree once stood, and anti-slavery voices like those of Frederick Douglass once rang out. Sullivan has recently taken to giving away chunks of the original tree, recently found in a municipal basement, to local schools and visiting dignitaries. The area was a stop on the Underground Railroad, the network of abolitionists who helped enslaved people escape bondage in the South and, for those making it on to Canada, second-class citizenship in the North.
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Previous ARPA projects
Even before the $38.59 million detailed so far in this article, the city had allocated nearly $8 million in ARPA projects. These include $3.7 million in work to make the Shaws Center ready to be a COVID testing site and another $3.7 million for premium pay for public workers during the pandemic. Pallotta, the city's ARPA project manager, is slated to receive $159,800 across an expected three years of work.
It's worth noting that another bundle of taxpayer dollars is on the way. The $550 billion federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which passed with bipartisan support last year, should bring financing for Brockton's famously pock-marked streets and 19th-century water pipes. Sullivan said he was scheduled to meet with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito on Wednesday to press the city's case for a healthy share of those dollars.
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This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: See the Brockton projects to be funded with $38.49M in ARPA tax dollars
