Current Status of Russell School

Russell School exterior

Russell School has been vacant since 2015, due to its deteriorating condition. A 2019 feasibility study estimated that fully rehabilitating the historic building would cost about $19-22 million. In July 2022, The Hadley Select Board appointed the Russell School Committee to explore opportunities for the building and identify funding sources.

After polling the local community and finding that stabilizing the structure to prevent further deterioration is important to the majority of residents, the committee moved forward to develop a plan for stabilization. In April 2023, they applied for a $1.2 million Community Preservation Act grant to fund necessary repairs, including replacing the slate roof, repointing the brick, and repairing the granite. However, the Select Board opted to instead pursue another feasibility study and the grant application was never brought to a vote. As a result, the building remained unmaintained. 

In July 2023, the Select Board disbanded the Russell School Committee, citing the need to complete the new feasibility study before making further decisions. At their meeting on December 6, 2023, the Select Board awarded the feasibility study contract to AHF Boston. In partnership with Allegrone Companies, AHF Boston presented the feasibility report to the Hadley Select Board at their meeting on May 21, 2025.

Watch the Presentation
Download the Feasibility Report

Highlights of the 2025 Feasibility Report:

  • The Russell School building is solid and ideal for housing or community use.
  • Additional parking required by the town’s zoning bylaws and ADA improvements are all feasible.
  • Necessary repairs include replacing all the windows, some selective repointing (replacing mortar in the joints between the bricks), replacing 25% of the roof, and structurally repairing all of the entries. The tower is the only structure that needs full repointing.
  • The consultants offered four options for the future of the building:
    • Base Option: $4.75 million to complete basic exterior work and miscellaneous interior improvements that will prevent further deterioration. The building would be available for limited use, but not fully accessible.
    • Option 1: $8.17 million to renovate the building into 11 housing units, including ADA upgrades.
    • Option 2: $8.07 million to renovate the building into usable community space (nonprofit offices, art studios, commercial kitchen, classrooms, meeting rooms, etc.), including ADA upgrades.
    • Demolition: $2.04 million to demolish the building
  • These costs do not include prevailing wages and could vary up to 20%.
  • It would be most cost efficient to complete the project in one phase, compared to starting with the base repairs and then completing the vision of Option 1 or Option 2 in a second phase.
  • There are federal and state funding opportunities that could be utilized for redevelopment such as historic tax credits, Underutilized Properties Program, MassWorks, etc.
  • Repairs should be made as soon as possible to prevent deterioration from progressing.