The future of the vacant Mattacheese school site became clearer this week as the Mattacheese Utilization Committee reached a firm consensus to abandon the preservation of existing structures in favor of a massive, privately funded sports and housing redevelopment. During their November 13 meeting, committee members prioritized the creation of a regional sports destination while insisting that the town avoid the financial burden of a municipal-led project.

The committee’s pivot toward demolition came as members reviewed feedback from the Select Board and evaluated the structural viability of the school’s remains. Committee member John Anderson was blunt about the prospects of saving the school’s performance space, stating, I appreciate Liz’s comments about the auditorium, but in my opinion, that is not feasible whatsoever. It can't happen. He further noted that it is unreasonable to think it's going to stay; it should be demolished.

Concerns over the building's current state were echoed by Andrew Leair, who pointed out that the structure is already failing. Regarding the auditorium, it exists in the wrong place and economically it doesn't make sense to save it, Leair said, adding, Keep it until it's not viable, then tear it down. It’s already leaking. This sentiment was shared by Lindsay Petro, who reminded the committee that the aging facility is not ADA compliant anyway, and Barbara Leo, who suggested the town would be better served by a new community and cultural center with current technology negotiated as part of a development deal.

The financial reality of the project dominated the discussion, with the committee unanimously favoring a public-private partnership model to ensure the site is developed within a two-to-three-year window. Town officials and committee members repeatedly referenced the need to use Other People’s Money to realize the site’s potential. Chair Sharon Wymer emphasized that the clarity from recent town briefings is that the town won't pay for this; it must be a public-private partnership. She noted that future financial analysis from the BSC Group and Camoin Associates will explore how market-rate rents might help subsidize the sports development.

While a regional sports complex is viewed as the primary economic engine, the inclusion of housing remains a point of strategic debate. Economic Development Director Megan Eldridge and Town Planner Kathy Williams noted that housing is often the key to unlocking state grants for essential infrastructure like water and sewer. Casey Schmidt argued that housing must be a mandatory component to thread the needle between the sports complex and the necessary grant money. The sports complex is a huge economic driver—you can't half-ass it—but a housing element must be attached for grant money, Schmidt said.

However, not all members were ready to mandate residential units in every design scenario. John Anderson expressed reservations, stating, I don't think we should say it has to be in every scenario. It depends on what a developer wants. Barbara Leo also voiced a need for more data, noting that while housing brings state funding, she is undecided without more data on the cost-benefit to the town’s tax base. Lindsay Petro argued that the town cannot continue to rely on residential property taxes to fund all services, stating, We need more tax revenue from businesses. Housing is important to house our people, but it can't just always come from families funding town services.

Jeff from the BSC Group, the project’s lead consultant, presented preliminary "bubble" drawings that illustrated how the 120,000-square-foot sports facility, fields, and parking would fit on the expansive site. He noted that the property is large enough to be overkill for sports alone, leaving ample room for other uses. We aren't flying blind. We are benchmarking successful regional sports facilities in Fitchburg and Taunton, Jeff told the committee. He also presented a scenario where a new school could be co-located at the site, though the committee reached a consensus that a school should only appear in one of the three final design scenarios to avoid complicating the faster-moving sports and housing plans.

The committee also addressed the potential location of a new school if the town decides to rebuild on the property. Most members, including Chair Wymer, favored keeping any new school footprint near the existing M.E. Small site to minimize neighborhood disruptions. The neighborhood is used to the traffic there, Wymer noted. Kathy Williams suggested that if a school is included, the town might look at low-density housing—Habitat style or small townhouses—rather than big apartment buildings to better fit the surrounding area.

The project will now move into a more detailed design phase, though it will do so with new leadership. Jeff announced he is departing the BSC Group for a position with the Town of Amherst. Heather and Oxsa will take you over the finish line, he assured the committee. Following his departure, the consultants will prepare refined concept plans for a community workshop on February 11, following a formal presentation to the Select Board on January 27. Kathy Williams noted that staff will use that January meeting to provide the Select Board with more information on the next phases and grant scopes so they understand the next steps fully.