The rear two-thirds of the building at 1592 Main St. is being demolished to provide space for a parking area and public market.
View full sizeThe former Asylum building at 1592 Main St. between Fort and Worthington streets in Springfield is in the process of being demolished.SPRINGFIELD – Work crews recently began a partial demolition and downtown redevelopment project at the former Asylum nightclub building on Main Street that includes reuse of the front portion of the building and creation of a parking lot.
The rear two-thirds of the building at 1592 Main St. is being demolished to provide space for the parking area and public market. The project cost, approximately $1,066,000, includes the demolition work, construction of a new back wall and foundations, parking lot construction and landscaping, said Thomas T. Walsh, communications director for Mayor Domenic J. Sarno.
The project is being funded by city and state funds, including a $400,000 state growth district grant, and brownfields funding from the Environmental Protection Agency and Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.
5/19/03 Springfield-- The exterior of the Asylum night club at the corner of Main and Worthington streets in downtown Springfield as seen in May 2003, the same month it was ordered to be closed because of safety violations. (Republican Photo/ Mark M. Murray)
“The former Asylum building has long been a problem spot in the heart of our downtown and we look forward to this being another positive turnaround for our Main Street,” Sarno said in a prepared release on Monday.
An announcement on the future reuse of the building is expected in coming weeks, Sarno said. The project will reduce the building square footage from 37,475 to 13,573 square feet, with a new first floor footprint of approximately 5,944 square feet, he said.
Drivers and pedestrians should expect some limited road closures on lower Worthington and Fort Street during the next few weeks, but all area businesses will remain open and street closures are expected to be done at hours to minimize inconvenience, according to the release.
Downtown business officials including Rudi R. Scherff, owner of the adjacent Student Prince and Fort Restaurant, praised the redevelopment project.
In 2009, the former Springfield Finance Control Board authorized the plan to transfer the property to the Springfield Parking Authority for $1, with the authority overseeing the building and lot.
The Asylum nightclub closed in 2004 after being cited as a public safety and fire hazard.
Previously, the building was used as a state unemployment office for 30 years, and as an Enterprise department store.