Former church property in Holyoke goes back on market

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Staff Writer

Published: 12-04-2022 8:53 PM

HOLYOKE — The businessman who bought a former church on Pleasant Street in the Highlands section of the city for $50,000 earlier this year has put the property on the market about three months after successfully asking the City Council to rezone the site to pave the way for a new motorcycle dealership, museum and restaurant. 

Coldwell Banker’s recent listing for the 474 Pleasant St. property is causing concern for at least one city councilor that the project presented by Dennis Bolduc, who runs the Indian Motorcycle of Springfield dealership in Westfield, will not be happening. Bolduc bought the site from the United Congregational Church of Holyoke after it was rezoned from residential to business-highway at the council’s Sept. 1 meeting.

At Large Councilor Tessa Murphy-Romboletti wrote in an email to the Gazette that she doesn’t know Bolduc’s plans are off, but the listing, in which the property is being offered for $425,000, is not auspicious.

“Unfortunately what seems to have happened here is that the City Council was led to believe there would be a great project started at this property, and of course we wanted to support those efforts, but based on this listing it looks like the owner is looking to sell and make a nice profit over this newly rezoned land,” Murphy-Romboletti said.

During the council’s discussion on the rezoning, councilors mentioned the specific project, but At-Large Councilor Israel Rivera noted that the new zoning would be consistent with other properties in that section of the city, and would be part of enhancing development opportunities, according to the minutes from that meeting.

Built in 1894, the 17,566-square-foot brick-and-brownstone, Romanesque Revival church also includes a 9,784-square-foot basement. At the time the rezoning was also about preserving the church, which has been used for small congregations and support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous in recent years.

At the intersection with Hampden Street, the building is across the street from a Dunkin’ Donuts and is a short distance from a plaza that includes a Stop & Shop supermarket.

Aaron Vega, director of Planning and Economic Development for the city, said he can’t comment on the project because he’s had no conversation with Bolduc.

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“All that I have seen is the listing and the comments on social media,” Vega said.

A phone call to and message left at Bolduc’s business was not immediately returned.

Planning Board Chair Mimi Panitch explained over the summer that business-highway zoning allows for “very high-intensity use,” as compared to other business zones, such as business general and business limited.

Though supported unanimously, some councilors suggested that a special permit would have been more appropriate, as that would have applied just to the uses Bolduc was seeking.

Murphy-Romboletti said she is leery of rezoning for a specific project, since there are no guarantees, but added that it is understandable the City Council wants to support taxable development.

“There’s such an emphasis for our city to expand our tax base and I’ve learned quickly that there’s a lot of pressure put on us to be business friendly and not get in the way of development, which unfortunately isn’t the best way to govern and legislate,” Murphy-Rombolleti said. “I just hope that we can all use this as a learning experience that highlights why it’s important to be proactive when we look at zoning and not always reactive.”

The real estate listing notes the site is located at a busy intersection and references the Dunkin’ shop.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com]]>