Client | Massachusetts DHCD, Mass Downtown Initiative |
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Location | Ashburnham, Massachusetts |
Tags | Planning Visioning Public Space |
Status | Completed 2021 |
Ashburnham is a small town located in North Central Massachusetts, on the border with New Hampshire. The town was one of 125 communities that received COVID recovery funds from the State to assess impacts from the pandemic and develop project-based plans for their commercial districts. OverUnder was hired as a consultant to help Ashburnham devise implementable strategies for reviving its downtown, commonly known as the Village Center. Through research and engagement with town staff and community stakeholders, OverUnder developed a plan of actionable project recommendations along three time frames: short-term (events, small business capital & technical assistance), medium-term (town hall capacity building, open space design, branding), and long-term (a business attraction and retention program, redevelopment of adjacent town-owned land, mobility study).