AUBURN — The City Council on Monday approved closing some of Chestnut Street, considered a major step in the process toward the construction of a $9 million PAL Center.

In total, only roughly 250 feet of the street is being discontinued, but it’s a section that has allowed a neighborhood connection between Webster and Winter streets.

Officials working on the project have said the closure is the best way to ensure safety for the larger youth center, as well as the best use of the land available for the new building footprint. However, some neighbors have previously spoken out against the change.

Renderings for the PAL project show the street turning into parking driveways for the center.

The council voted 5-1 to approve the discontinuance, with Councilor Leroy Walker opposed. Councilor Rick Whiting, who has had concerns with the closure, was absent.

According to a memo, once approved, the order of discontinuance is recorded in the Androscoggin County Registry of Deeds. However, Mayor Jason Levesque said the closure will not take place until work on the center begins.

Whiting had previously told the council that while he supports the new PAL Center, he had heard from some neighbors concerned for the traffic movement in the area. He said there are “very few ways to get from Turner Street to Hampshire Street,” and the Chestnut Street route was one. He urged the city to instead institute a lower speed limit.

Staff said the street closure also made the most sense for its funding sources and underground utilities in the area.

Levesque said Monday that he plans to ask the council to approve the use of $1.5 million in unallocated fund balance — or the city’s “rainy day fund” — to cover the PAL Center’s current funding gap.

“That will allow us to have all the money needed to start and finish construction,” he said. “For the last several years, we’ve been extremely frugal with budgetary expenditures, which will allow us to get this much-needed project finally built.”

OTHER NEWS

Prior to the meeting, the city held a short remembrance for the victims of the Oct. 25 mass shootings, where councilors read the names of each victim, along with a slideshow of pictures. Councilor Leroy Walker read the name of his son, Joseph Walker.

Crowell also thanked city staff, especially its first responders for their work in the wake of the shootings, as well as President Biden’s subsequent visit.

“I’m so proud of our team as well as our community,” he said. Crowell also pointed to Walker’s response, who despite losing his son, was still among city leaders responding to the tragedy, he said.

Crowell said to honor the victims, the city will ring the St. Louis Bells in Anniversary Park 18 times every Wednesday for the next 18 weeks.

Also Monday, the city also accepted a grant award of $110,000 from Hannaford that will be used to hire an additional Project Support You staff member in Auburn. The program allows mental health professionals to ride along with police and respond to mental health calls. The city has one other Project Support You staff member.

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