The Belchertown Economic Development and Industrial Corp. (BEDIC) and MassDevelopment are cleaning up the administration building and starting demolition activities on the Belchertown State School core campus.

"The cleanup of the Belchertown State School site represents a key milestone along the redevelopment path," said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones. "I look forward to work on this important project proceeding through the winter and spring."

Earlier this month, MassDevelopment awarded a contract to Bay State Contracting of Springfield to perform a non-invasive abatement of the administration building that will remove asbestos debris and enable MassDevelopment to work with a broker to start marketing the property for rehabilitation and reuse.

Following a study that assessed hazardous materials and remediation strategies, MassDevelopment solicited bids for the removal of asbestos-containing materials and demolition of six buildings and selective tunnels on the site known as Pad 1. Pad 1 is the site where Grantham Group LLC, a Boston-based assisted living developer that has worked with MassDevelopment at Village Hill Northampton, plans to build an 83-unit complex, more than 40 of which of which will be affordable).  This project will support 65 construction jobs and create 40 permanent positions.

MassDevelopment and Belchertown officials are also working to develop a Business Neighborhood District zone that the Planning Board, Board of Selectmen and BEDIC have all supported. The group will seek voter approval for this zoning change, together with revisions to the BEDIC Development Plan and acceptance of an altered layout of Berkshire Avenue as a public way, at a Dec. 1 special town meeting.