By J.J. Huggins jhuggins@eagletribune.com
Tuesday March 24, 2009

METHUEN — The city-owned property at 24 Gill Ave. is home to an old, vacant building previously used by Disabled American Veterans. But with support from local and state politicians, and federal stimulus money, Head Start plans to replace the eyesore with a new schoolhouse, a playground for students, and a walking path and picnic table for the public. It will use about an acre of land, said Anne D'Errico, director of the Greater Lawrence Head Start program.
"This is awesome," said Oscar Vazquez, whose 4-year-old daughter is in Head Start. "This is a great neighborhood."
Established in 1965, Head Start is a government-funded program that provides education and support services to low-income families. It serves children ages 15 months to 5 years.
The group, based locally in Lawrence, plans to demolish the building and erect a two-story, five-classroom school with nearly 4,000 square feet of space on each floor.
"It's such a good neighborhood and I think this is going to be a major part of the revitalization," D'Errico said.
Mayor William Manzi, a supporter of the project, said the DAV building hasn't been in use for about two years.
Having a school in the neighborhood will allow officials to designate the area a drug-free zone.
The City Council voted unanimously last week to send a home rule petition to the Legislature, asking lawmakers to allow the city to waive state procurement laws and lease the site to Head Start for $1 per year for 99 years.
The City Council has to hold a public hearing on the matter and then vote once more to give the petition final approval. If the council does that, it will then be up to the Legislature to decide whether to approve the petition. The council has scheduled the public hearing for April 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Council Chairwoman Deborah Quinn said the school will help the city because the neighborhood will have a new, "beautiful building," children will have a well-maintained park, and students and parents will benefit from the programs. "Everybody wins here," she said.

 Head Start is not asking Methuen for money, just the land. The project will cost an estimated $1.2 million, and it is considered a "shovel-ready" project, meaning construction crews can get to work quickly. Once the Legislature approves the home rule petition, Head Start can break ground within four weeks, D'Errico said.
Head Start officials said the project should be eligible for federal economic stimulus money.
"Everybody can see this is almost a reality with the stimulus bill," said Philip Laverriere, executive director and CEO of Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, which oversees Head Start. Head Start has been working with the city for more than a year to obtain the land.
 Head Start serves 529 children per year in five schools. Four of those facilities are in Lawrence and one is in Methuen, at Central School, 236 Lawrence St. Central School is a historic building, so Head Start cannot expand to meet the growing needs of its Methuen students and families, D'Errico said.
Having the new building on Gill Avenue will allow Head Start to keep Methuen students in Methuen, Laverriere said. "We have enough of a crowd over in Lawrence," he said.