Page 13 - BusinessWest November 24, 2021

Ludlow
Continued from page 11
said he’d like the town to explore a fiber-optic installation in Ludlow, an idea that was inspired by his work- from-home experience. During the pandemic, while he stayed connected to work through the internet, his two children also attended school online, which severely taxed his home internet capabilities.
“I learned the 19 IP addresses that were in my house, so I could shut down different devices in order to get better internet reception,” he said.
Rosenblum acknowledges that, while fiber optics certainly fits the
Star Trek criteria in benefiting many people, such a move requires consider- able research to see if it’s even remotely affordable for the town.
For this, the latest installment of its Community Spotlight series, Business- West looks at ARPA options and other pressing matters in Ludlow, a commu- nity that has seen considerable resi- dential growth in recent years and is now seeing business growth as well.
At a Crossroads
According to Rosenblum, home
“The mill developments are such a game changer for the town. It’s also where a lot of our major economic development will be going forward.”
sales remain brisk, largely because interest rates have stayed low. Mean- while, over the past two years, home prices in Ludlow have increased 30%, with the average list price topping out at $376,000.
While some residents are concerned about the tax rate, he pointed out that increasing home values are what leads to higher tax bills.
“When you look at tax rates in com- munities across Massachusetts, Ludlow is right in the middle,” he noted.
Stefancik added that some of the larger McMansion-type homes in town bring in more than $10,000 a year in taxes.
“While that may seem high, taxpay- ers are getting a new school and a new senior center, which are both good things for the community,” he said. “The new school might even convince a family to move here.”
As Stefancik reviewed the many activities happening through his department with BusinessWest, one interesting trend stood out. Last year, 17 homeowners applied for special permits for home-based businesses, a high-water mark for the community.
While it would be easy to assume
the pandemic sparked this increase in home-based business permits, Stefan- cik said it’s a trend that actually started before COVID arrived.
“The permits range from electri- cians and carpenters to artists and consultants,” he noted. “Back when I started in the job, these requests might occasionally trickle in, but now it’s our most common special permit.”
This trend was certainly in evidence back in October when the Ludlow Cul- tural Commission held a Community Market event at Memorial Park. Grace Barone, executive director for the East of the River Chamber, an event spon- sor, was impressed with the communi-
William Rosenblum says Ludlow needs
to use available funds to benefit the most people and invest in the future, not just immediate needs.
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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
NOVEMBER 24, 2021 13
BusinessWest