By Claire Overton, 22 News
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – The city of Chicopee celebrated the transformation of its old library building into a community hub with a ceremony attended by state and city officials.
After sitting vacant for 20 years, the old Chicopee library building has been repurposed into a community space, thanks to over $10 million in state and federal funding.
“We had to really try to think outside the box on how we were going to turn this into a viable space that could be a hub,” said Chicopee Mayor John Vieau.
Chicopee City Council President Frank Laflamme addressed concerns about the project’s cost, stating, “There was people out there that said knock it down, why are we spending the money on it? Well, this is what we got out of it for the community to use.”
The old library building had been vacant since the Chicopee Library moved to its current location on Front Street. The city plans to use the new community hub to bring residents together through various events and support local businesses.
Congressman Richard Neal highlighted the importance of the funding, saying, “This is just what the ARPA money was supposed to do. It was to restore landmarks, it was about an investment in the future.”
The newly repurposed community hub is expected to serve as a center of activity for Chicopee residents, fulfilling a long-standing need for a communal space in the city.
