Belchertown Select Board Hears $22 Million Tadil School Estimate, Defers Sale Decision

Select Board · Meeting of June 15, 2026

Belchertown Select Board receives $22 million renovation estimate for former Tadil School and defers development decision until fall. Architects from Quinn Riddle and Associates presented a schematic design for the 26,813-square-foot building on Whitlock Way depicting a 60-40 split between business and community space, driven by a One Stop grant requirement; cost estimator Craig of PM&C put the renovation price tag just under $22 million, or roughly $545 per square foot, with an earlier conceptual estimate reaching $26.5 million when design and survey costs were included. Town Administrator Steve Grenon outlined three paths — town ownership with a debt exclusion, a public-private partnership through an RFP, or an outright sale — and warned that "the worst case scenario would be to accept grants, put money into a building and then have it sit vacant and tear it down in five years." A One Stop grant decision on roof funding is expected in October; the board agreed to hold a formal Tadil discussion before that deadline.

The board also approved 4-0 amendments to Veterans Advisory Board rules, removing two inactive organizations from named seats and updating meeting schedules, on the recommendation of newly appointed Veterans Service Agent Dustin Ruby. Five end-of-year municipal budget transfers totaling approximately $31,944 were approved unanimously, and the board endorsed a resolution commemorating America's 250th anniversary and authorized a flag raising at Lawrence Memorial Hall on July 1.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,983 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of June 15, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.