The Chair City of Gardner MA Top 40 Hit Projects – UPDATED
At any given time in Gardner, there are dozens of projects in various stages needing various lists: Jump to Completed Projects, Ongoing Projects, Planned 2024 Projects, Future Projects, Future Needs, and the Crazy Wish List. The Top 40 profiles the most notable at any given point in time.
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GARDNER MA ONGOING HIT PROJECTS
Ongoing Projects
The City of Gardner has dozens of ongoing projects at any given point in time. These are some of the TOP 40 Ongoing Hit Projects in the Chair City of Gardner.
| Number | Project | Description | Location | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Bank of America Building | Renovation for new businesses | Parker Street Gardner | It was announced that a Steakhouse was interested |
2. | Behavioral Health | Prevention Coordinator, Domestic Violence Advocate | Prevention Coordinator works out of City Hall. Domestic Violence Advocate works out of Gardner PD | Resources to help those with addiction and domestic violence |
3. | Central Park Building | Renovation of commercial and residential units | 280-302 and 310-320 Central Street, Gardner | Exterior of building got beautiful new siding in Fall 2023 |
4. | City Charter changes | Changes off to legislature for approval | Gardner MA | The City Charter is Gardner’s constitution |
5.  | City Cleanup | Keep Gardner Beautiful expected to resume in spring 2024, did not do in fall of 2023 | City-wide | The annual City Cleanup is spearheaded by Diane ‘Neon’ Leblanc |
6. | City of Gardner Salary Study | Hiring Staff issue due to lower pay than competition | City of Gardner | Has been an issue. Most recently DPW Director informed Mayor and City Council via letter in November 2023, Dane Arnold spoke at Public Service Committee meeting CLICK HERE. |
7. | Dog Park Improvements | 2 small shade pavilions added, drainage work on agility side done, drainage work Wright Street side needed | Charbonneau and Wright Street, Gardner | The Gardner Dog Park at Pulaski is one of the largest in the region |
8. | Education Curriculum Improvements | 2021 to 2024 Various improvement plans are underway | City of Gardner Public Schools | |
9. | Empire Management Building | Facade upgrade | ||
10. | Encouraging faith-based community | a prayer opens and closes each Gardner City Council meeting | ||
11. | Fiber Improvements | $200k grant was received | City-wide | Allows greater connectivity including the ability for the Gardner PD to see school security cameras |
12. | Flat Iron Building | Renovation of Structure – Commercial | 25 Main Street, Gardner MA | A restaurant named “The Vault” may locate on the first floor of the building |
13. | Garbose Building | Renovation of commercial and residential units | The Garbose Building is an historic building | |
14. | Gardner Community Center | conversion of Waterford Street School – $550k Gardner, 400k State | Waterford Street, Gardner MA | The City of Gardner released a Video Press Release, CLICK HERE. Article on Announcement |
15. | Gardner Fire Department Building | Roof in need of repair | ||
16. | Gardner Fire Department Equipment | |||
17. | Gardner Landfill Expansion | More public input is planned before proceeding | ||
18. | Gardner News Building | Renovation in to commercial and/or residential units | ||
19. | Heywood Surgical Pavilion | State-of-the-art Surgical Pavilion -construction paused | ||
20. | Illegal Dumping Abatement | Cameras in City catch illegal dumpers | ||
21. | Insect Remediation | Central Mass Mosquito Project handles this issue for Gardner | ||
22. | Open spaces | |||
23. | Operation Storefront | Various state and city programs in effect to fill storefronts and provide facade improvements | ||
24. | Paving | Accelerated Paving Schedule | ||
25. | Prospect Street School | company bought to build condos | ||
26. | Public Entertainment | Monument Park Concerts and other events | ||
27. | Pumps at the landfill | Installation to replace pumps | ||
28. | School Street School | land legal issue preventing completion of sale | ||
29. | Salt Shed for DPW | |||
30. | Sound Financial Management | After 3 perfect Federal Audits, Mayor plans more detail in budgets going forward, similar to how Amesbury does it | ||
31. | Timpany Crossroads | Shopping Plaza – a couple storefronts available | Timpany Boulevard, Gardner MA | |
32.  | Transparency – more meetings on video | Uncertain as to status of certain meetings and why not covered on YouTube | ||
33 | Gardner Airport | Runways redone with Grant Funds | Templeton MA, owned by City of Gardner | |
34 | Bailey Brook Park | First playground for kids k-5, pickleball, other construction planned | ||
35 | Gardner City Hall | Electrical, bathrooms, windows in Perry Auditorium | Pleasant Street, Gardner MA | |
36 | Uptown Rotary Project | Project paused for winter, will resume in Spring 2024, | Central, Green, Elm, and Pearl Street area | A roundabout will be created to improve traffic flow and reduce accidents |
GARDNER MA PLANNED 2024 PROJECTS
Planned 2024 Projects
| Number | Project | Description | Location | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Rear Main Street | Dozens of Housing units, Event Plaza, parking | Rear Main Street, Gardner | Had been delayed |
| 2. | Maki Park | Across from the Gardner Ale House – 3 tier terraced park is planned Electricity to be put in, would result in charging stations for EVs in nearby parking lot | Parker Street, Gardner MA | |
| 3. | Greenwood Demolition | building in state of disrepair expected to be torn down, replaced by outdoor pavilion | ||
4. | Ovila Case Fantasy Playground Replacement | Fantasy playground due to be replaced if grant is awarded. Matching City funds have already been approved by the City Council. | ||
5. | Main Water Line | Main Water line to be replaced as approved grant funding is actually received by City | ||
6. | Zoning Changes | marijuana quota, sports betting to table of uses – on radar still early 2023 | ||
7. | Greenwood Pavilion | New pavilion to be constructed at the site of the old indoor pool building once it has been demolished | ||
8. | Demolition Rome Building at corner of Willow and Main | The building at the corner will be demolished. | ||
9. | Wayfinding Improvements in Downtown Area | New signage to be deployed based on input from wayfinding study | ||
GARDNER MA FUTURE HIT PROJECTS
Future Projects
| Number | Project | Description | Location | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | $5 million Bridge and Bike Trail | Bike Path to include Bike and | Green Street and Route 140, Gardner | In Design Phase |
| 2. | Arts and Music Center | at Helen Mae Sauter School – various legislative hurdles | Elm Street, Gardner | GALA interested in a lease |
| 3. | Gardner Visitors Center | Take over Gardner Visitors Center from State | Central Street, Gardner | Trade with State not yet completed |
| 4. | Gardner out of Civil Service | Gardner wants to opt out of Civil Service for more flexibility in hiring | legislative action is awaited | |
| 5. | New Industrial Park | Survey underway, no plans yet | Matthews Street, Gardner | After study is done, may proceed |
GARDNER MA FUTURE NEEDS
Future Needs
| Number | Project | Description | Location | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Repairs and clearing stairs – Reservoir Street | The stairs have been overgrown for years | Reservoir Street Gardner | |
2. | South Main Street Bridge | Road is closed, bridge could use repair to reopen | South Main Street Gardner | Federal law and railroads an impediment |
| 3. | stair replacement – behind Social Security Office on Main Street | Stairs need repair? | not sure if these have been repaired | |
4. | new High School | A new High School is projected to be needed within the next couple decades | ||
5. | new Middle School | construction in association with the Middle School is possible to achieve new High School | ||
6. | Noise Ordinance | Gardner does not have a noise ordinance | Article on Noise Complaints | |
GARDNER MA CRAZY WISH LIST
Crazy Wish List
| Number | Project | Description | Location | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Municipal FM radio station | Possibility of a Municipal lower power FM station when a window opens with FCC | Could be located at High School or City Hall | Article on what is possible. |
2. | West Street Parking Garage | A Parking garage would cost millions due to the amount of ledge in that area | ||
3. | Gardner Spaceport – 2073 | A possibility as commercial space travel becomes more common in the World | Gardner Municipal airport | |
4.  | Visitors Center and Tourism Shop | Small Cities such as Gardner benefit from tourism. | ||
5. | South Gardner Underground Electric | In order to create a more attractive South Gardner, the electric would be underground | ||
6. | Complete Local Business Revival | General Public starts to buy most items locally instead of online as local merchants provide easier accessibility to yet invented services. | ||
GARDNER MA COMPLETED HIT PROJECTS
Projects Completed in the last few years.
| Number: | Project: | Description: | Location: | More Info: |
1 | Gardner Elementary School | New $90 million dollar Elementary School – State-of-the-Art Facility | Pearl Street, Gardner MA | Aside from wetlands replication, all work done. GES Open — You’ve Got This — Two Worlds — Moving In — Photos update |
2 | Ryan Block | 29 New Apartment Units t | 42-52 Parker Street, Gardner MA | Paid for by $900,000 grant and $2.9 million dollar loan Article re Money Coming in |
3 | Health Center and Urgent Care | Community Health Connections has constructed a new Health Center and Urgent Care facility near Walmart | Off Route 68, Gardner MA | This significantly expands services currently offered at Connors Street, Gardner. April 2022 Article June 2022 Article |
4 | Park St. Park | An old Electric sub-station currently displaying barbed wire has been turned in to an appealing park and additional parking for Monument Park | Park Street, Gardner MA | Finished in 2023 Letter from Mayor to City Council re Park St. Park |
5 | Athletic Fields and Concession Stand | Gardner High School | Catherine Street, Gardner MA | Gardner High School Concession Construction Fields of Play |
6 | Paving and Sidewalks Downtown and the City, Potholes | Sidewalks replaced and Paving done in Downtown Gardner MA | Various Streets in the Community | Article on the Pothole Portal for Residents. Paving Articles: April June July August September Eaton Street Paving |
7 | Ovila Case Park Upgrades | New Basketball Court, Walking Trail, Parking Lot, Picnic Trail Fantasy Playground repaired, subsequently torn down, to be replaced in 2024. | ||
8 | Coleman and Dyer Street Pump Station Upgrades | At cost of $618,000 included a full rebuild of the wet well, new electrical service/upgrades, and new pumps. Funds from sewer rate revenue | ||
9 | Middle School Locker Replacement | Tall 6 inch lockers as old as the school replaced with half height 12 inch wide lockers. $200,000 cost, ($125,000 from free cash, balance from School Department budget.) | Catherine Street, Gardner MA | Lockers installed and in use |
10 | Repainted Elevated Water Tank | $200,000 from the Water Enterprise Budget used to pressure wash, prime and paint the exterior. Process helps with temperature control of the structure | ||
11 | Gardner High Improvements | Gym Floor, Auditorium Replaced the 20 year old court | Catherine Street, Gardner MA | Article Showing high School |
12 | Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrades and Water Quality | $11.4 million in upgrades funded by Sewer bill revenue Included new items such as the Headworks Building, dewatering system, generator, electric system, and Control/Data system | Article on Water Quality Crystal Lake | |
13 | Community Center | A new Community Center was announced for 2023 at site of former Waterford Street Elementary School | Waterford Street, Gardner MA | |
14 | Road and Public Safety | Travel Safety Article Road Safety Article Bus Safety Article | ||
15 | Supporting Arts and Culture | Mayor Michael Nicholson has received support from both the School Committee and the City Council in supporting the Arts, Culture, and Music in Gardner | 10-7-22 Article on Music Program Gardner Cultural Council Article Elementary School Gallery GHS Concert Mural at Rotary | |
16 | Elm Street School Repurpose | This school is being used to house Gardner Academy, the Boys and Girls Club, and will also have the School District offices | Elm Street, Gardner MA | |
17 | Unused City Buildings Sales | Gardner has decided to sell the former Prospect Street School and School Street School | ||
18 | Education Curriculum Improvements | In the past few years, Gardner has made substantial advances in the Curriculum throughout all grades | Article on Teacher Development Stem Grant | |
19 | Financial Management | Gardner has endeavored to practice sound financial management and has received a Perfect Federal Audit 2 years in a row | Article on 2nd Perfect Audit | |
20 | Pumps at the Landfill | A study is being done to determine cost of repairs | Pumps Update | |
21 | Landfill Expansion | Gardner wants to expand the landfill to add more sludge. The plan is currently under review. | ||
22 | City Cleanup and Illegal Dumping | Gardner has deployed cameras throughout the City in order to catch those who dispose of large items of trash improperly | Article on Illegal Trash Dumping Tidy Up Gardner Keep Gardner Beautiful | |
23 | Youth Behavioral Health – Social/Emotional Learning | Social/Emotional learning has been a component of the curriculum in Gardner Public School | Article: Respectful Teenagers Gardner MA Schools Curricula | |
24 | G News, BOA Buildings | Both buildings will be renovated | Article Molina in Gardner | |
25 | Downtown Gardner Promotion | Read about Downtown Gardner. | ||
26 | Police Department Management Improvements | Gardner recently got a new Police Chief who is set to implement Management Improvements | Gardner Promotes from Within | |
27 | Public Entertainment | Gardner features FREE summer concerts at Monument Park and private clubs have various groups playing throughout theseason | 2022 Schedule | |
28 | Water infrastructure | Gardner has applied for a grant to replace its aging main water line. In 2021, many water lines were replaced in the City | Main Water Line | |
29 | Public Meeting Compliance and City Transparency | Ongoing Effort at Unprecedented Transparency in City Government City Council and School Committee Goal to Actively Provide as much info as possible | May Article re School Committee Meeting Minutes Interact with Gardner Article Gardner Public Meetings Calendar | |
30 | Hiring Staff | Currently, the City of Gardner has staffing shortages | City of Gardner MA Employment page | |
31 | Zoning | Various zoning changes have been proposed | ||
32 | Encouraging Tourism | Gardner MA Live, Work, Play, and Visit | ||
33 | Computer Security | Gardner had received warning about the vulnerability of computers due to certain software tied to Russia. | Article on Security Risk in Gardner | |
34 | Central Street Buildings | Buildings purchased to be renovated by Door Fund Central Street, LLC | 280-302 and 310-320 Central Street Gardner | Article: Two Buildings Sold |
| 35 | Storefront Revitalization | Gardner is working towards filling vacant storefronts in Downtown and other areas of the City. | Storefront Revitalization Article Operation: Storefront | |
36 | Open Spaces | Gardner works on protecting its open spaces. | Crystal Lake | |
37 | Real Estate Values | Real Estate values in Gardner have gone up substantially | September 2022 on home sales | |
38 | 100th as A City Celebration | On January 1, 2023, Gardner will celebrated its 100th anniversary as a City. Gardner was established as a town in 1785 | History of the Big Chair and Furniture Industry History of Gardner Book Historical Photos Various events were held in 2023 | |
39 | City Charter | In November 2022, the Gardner City Council established a committee to review the City Charter which has not been updated since 1923, | Gardner City Council Meeting regarding the Charter Charter Committee reviewed Charter, City Council approved recommendations, Voters approved non-binding ballot question, and now item is off to MA Legislature for approval | |
40 | Drug Addiction | Gardner maintains various programs to encourage those in recovery from addiction | 988 Hotline | |
 | Encouraging Faith-based community | A prayer opens and closes each Gardner City Council meeting | Our Churches page Read the Bible | |
 | Pleasant Plaza | An experiment in Summer 2022 closed off Pleasant Street in Gardner. The experiment ended 2 months later. | Article: The Birth of Pleasant Plaza | |
| Insect Remediation | The Central Mass Mosquito Control Project handles this issue for Gardner. | Article on Mosquito Control Team | |
 | Infrastructure including Cable and Internet | Extension of cable internet to any areas not currently served was completed. | ||
 | Marijuana Sales | Currently, Gardner can have 2 pot shops. One is currently open. | Article on Pot Farm | |
 | Covid | Dealing with Covid with regard to Public Buildings, the Schools, and Private Business has been a 3 year+ effort. | May Article on Covid Trends | |
 | 104 Parker Street | Building Renovated | 104 Parker Street, Gardner | |
 | Pleasant Street Facade | Facade Repainted 2023 | ||
 | Orpheum Park | Park Finished with Beautiful Fountain |
Gardner Magazine conducted a Projects Interview with Gardner Mayor Nicholson in July 2022. Here’s a link to the Projects Interview page.