Page 10 - BusinessWest December 7, 2020

Community Spotlight
Ludlow Keeps Building and Improving
By Mark Morris
Despite the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19, the town of Ludlow keeps building and improving.
As coronavirus rates continue to rise across Massachusetts, Manuel Silva, chairman of the Ludlow Board of Selectmen, said officials in town are closely monitoring the number of cases there.
“Without innovative thinking from Westmass and the developers we work with, these mill buildings could have been vacant and falling apart.”
A long-time selectman who served an earlier term as chairman, Silva said the pandemic has brought more challenges than a typical year. Like most places, Ludlow Town Hall is closed to the general public except by appointment. Silva said some town functions, such as the town clerk and tax collector’s offices, are conducting limited public business from the rear of the building, where they can offer service through a window.
“It almost looks like an ice-cream stand,” he said with a laugh.
While Ludlow Mills features several ongoing projects (more on that later), Silva wanted to talk to BusinessWest about a few prominent munici- pal projects that are nearing completion.
For example, construction on Harris Brook Elementary School is progressing, with a good chance that students will begin attending next fall. Harris Brook is being built to replace Chapin and Veterans Park elementary schools, with the new school located on what used to be playing fields for the adjacent Chapin School.
It’s possible the old buildings may be repur- posed and given a second life, Silva said. “We are looking at doing a study on both Chapin and Vet- erans Park to see what other use the town might have for them.”
He and other town officials are scheduled to tour Harris Brook and inspect the progress that’s been made on it. Once the new school is com- plete, Ludlow will receive reimbursement from the state for nearly half the cost of the $60 million project.
Another project nearing completion involves road improvements to Center Street, a main artery in Ludlow. Because the street is also
part of Route 21, a state highway, the Com-
Ludlow
at a glance
YEAR INCORPORATED: 1774
POPULATION: 21,103
AREA: 28.2 square miles
COUNTY: Hampden
RESIDENTIAL TAX RATE: $20.62
COMMERCIAL TAX RATE: $20.62
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $53,244
MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME: $67,797
TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: Town Council, Representative Town Meeting
LARGEST EMPLOYERS: Hampden County House of Correction; Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital; Massachusetts Air National Guard; Kleeberg Sheet Metal Inc.
*Latest information available
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10 DECEMBER 7, 2020
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
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