They paved the blight and put in a parking lot

By Patrick Adrian
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SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — To a visitor, the newly completed parking lot at the bottom of Union Street Elementary School may seem nothing more than additional spaces. But to the Springfield School District and many across the community, the lot represents how a town can turn a collective problem into a solution when it works together.

Two years ago Union Street Elementary had, in addition to limited parking, a neighboring property nuisance at 33 Union Street. Then owned by Danielle Garceau, of Springfield, during 2017 the 33 Union Street house was subject of a multi-month investigation by the Vermont Task Force for drug-related activity. In May 2017 the Task Force raided the house, arresting 16 people or various drug charges of possession, trafficking and distribution. Garceau was arrested and cited on three counts of selling narcotics on school property and two counts of violating her court-ordered conditions of release from custody.

For months following the raid, 33 Union Street remained occupied, a vacant blight whose potential hazards raised community concerns.

The school, however, saw the property as an opportunity. The school had already acquired the property of 47 Union Street, which stood between the school and 33 Union Street. The town demolished the rundown house on 47 Union Street in 2016 before the school acquired it.

In December 2017 the Town of Springfield authorized the Springfield Housing Association to purchase 33 Union Street for the sum of $2,000 and donate it to the school. Springfield voters approved the house’s demolition in 2018.

Yesterday on the Springfield School District posted photos of the former 33 Union Street house alongside pictures of its new parking lot on its facebook page.

“Amazing what can happen when a community’s citizens, schools, town government, neighborhood associations, and non-profits are all pulling in the same direction,” the district post said. “Thanks to all for—once again—helping change Union Street School and the Union Street neighborhood.”