Grand Trunk Media Center Project Docs (22 files)
In early 2012, there was a "Brain Trust" meeting called by Lisa Davol, who was the Turners Falls River Culture coordinator at the time. She needed office space. At this meeting, Mik Muller asked Frank Abbondanzio whether the old Cumberland Farms building was still occupied by the arts organization or the Native American organization that once occupied it. He said no.
And so started a seven-year saga of MCCI trying to purchase the building and turn it into the Grand Trunk Media Center, named for the famed hotel that once stood on that land. Between then and now, MCCI board members worked with the Montague Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC) and the Cable Advisory Committee (CAC) to approve the sale (EDIC) and approve the purchase (CAC), and provide whatever support they could.
Mik also worked with Rep Steve Kulick and State Sen Stan Rosenberg to apply pressure on the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), who had done the actual "taking" of the building from Cumberland Farms and set the buildings usage to specifically environmental education. Steve and Stan got DCR to expand it to include cultural uses, which MCTV could be considered, and thus allowed to occupy the building, which had been empty and falling apart for years.
After many delays, both technical and otherwise, and three attempts by the town to demolish the building (all three times defeated by Town Meeting), the project just petered out while the Town focused their attention on selling the building to a local river rafting company. In spring of 2019, they pulled out of consideration, and so the Town of Montague no longer had a buyer for the building.
MCCI is prepared to submit a new proposal, with a coalition of key stakeholders and other individuals of influence. It is their hope that 2019 will be the year that the Town of Montague finally supports MCCI, the Montague Business Association, and Turners Falls RiverCulture, in their effort to create the Grand Trunk Media Center.
Below, please find historical and present-day supporting documentation.
You can also find the minutes of the Montague EDIC meetings, here: https://www.montague-ma.gov/f/0/16/Montague-EDIC-Meetings
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MEDIC 2019-10 Letter to MCCI Cumby.pdf
Turns out, there were other people submitting proposals, too!
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2019-06-28 Roy Rosenblatt Letter.pdf
Letter of support from Roy Rosenblatt, formerly on the EDIC and the CAC
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2019-06-24 Andrew Killeen - MCCI Cumberland Farms Building Letter.pdf
Letter from Andy Killeen, former EDIC president
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2019-06-21 MCCI Grand Trunk Draft Proposal Revised.pdf
Updated version of original first-pass proposal for the interior space and usage of the Grand Trunk Media Center. Updated June 21st, 2019, by Mik.
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2014-01-30 Montague Special Town Meeting Votes.pdf
Third time the Town tried to have the building demolished. Article 2, defeated.
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2013-05-04 Montague Town Meeting Article 2 partial transcript.docx
Comments by Michael Nelson and Patricia Pruitt. Several people stood to support MCCI, including David Detmold.
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2013-05-04 Montague Annual Town Meeting Background Info.pdf
Second time the Town tried to have the building demolished. Article 2, defeated.
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2013-04-01 DCR Narrative.doc
Letter to the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) explaining our intended use of the building, in anticipation of them changing the takings document to allow for our use of the building
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2013-03 PVCC Presentation to MCCI for Grand Trunk.pdf
Pioneer Valley Custom Construction's presentation to MCCI for costs of Grand Trunk project and proof of similar projects completed
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2013-03 MCCI Grand Trunk Fypon Moulding.pdf
Draft drawing of the Fypon Moulding we might use
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2013-03 MCCI Grand Trunk FloorPlan Combined.pdf
Combined document containing: current draft floor plan; blank (gutted) floor plan; narrative of operating concept for the building. Inside floor plan must accommodate all parties, at a minimum price point.
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2013-03 MCCI Grand Trunk 38 Ave A Elevation.jpg
This is one of the draft elevation drawings of the exterior.
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2013-03-06 MCCI Grand Trunk Proposal Cumberland Farms Floorplan Draft Mik.pdf
Mik's original draft floorplan for the Grand Trunk Media Center
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2012-11-21 EDIC Memo.pdf
Letter from EDIC to MCCI regarding roof and path forward
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2012-10-11 Greenfield Recorder C1.pdf
Headline: Montague Board: Time running out for Cumberland Farms deal this year
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2012-10-01 Greenfield Recorder C8.pdf
Headline: Hoped-for new home for Montague TV jeopardized
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2012-08-18 Recorder Article Cumbys.pdf
Headline: Cable group to get former Cumberland Farms
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2012-08-13 EDIC Meeting Statement.docx
Letter from MCCI to EDIC regarding purchase of the building
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2012-07-12 EDIC to MCCI letter.pdf
Letter from Walter saying EDIC will entertain a final complete proposal by August 1st, 2012
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2012-05-05 Montague Special Town Meeting Votes.pdf
First time the Town tried to have the building demolished. Article 1, amended to remove the words ''or demolition'', and increase budget to $32,000.
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2012-03-28 Article Recorder.pdf
Headline: Montague soon to have title for former Cumberland farms
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2012-03-19 Letter Support Eileen Dowd.doc
Eileen Dowd was on both the CAC and MBA at the time
There are also a bunch of meeting files available to view on the EDIC page on the Town website.