SPRINGFIELD — After several community meetings with North End residents upset about the proposed relocation of Western Massachusetts Correctional Alcohol Center to their neighborhood, Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe has notified the state that he has placed a 60-day moratorium on further development of the project.
Ashe notified the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance that he wants to put on hold the current proposed relocation of the program to a site on Wason Avenue in Springfield's Brightwood neighborhood in the North End. Residents have voiced loud opposition to the plan to locate the center in their neighborhood.
"I want to show respect to the neighborhood and I want them to know that I have heard their concerns," Ashe said, citing the feedback he heard at neighborhood meetings and his consideration of the matter.
The move gives other developers a 60-day period to respond to the current invitation for proposals sought by DCAMM.
The current invitation for proposals calls for the facility to be located in Springfield, West Springfield, Chicopee or Holyoke. So far only two bids have been submitted since the IFP was posted on Feb. 12.
"While I prefer to remain in Springfield, we will consider all viable, credible alternatives," Ashe said.
According to information on CommBuys, the state's procurement record system, the bid closes on Aug. 28 at 4 p.m. However, state officials have said the bid is open indefinitely at this point with no closing date.
The original facility was located in Springfield's South End on Howard Street but had to move to make way for the MGM Springfield casino. The program is currently operating out of its temporary location in the former Geriatric Authority building in Holyoke.