After a committee evaluated more than 30 sites, the former restaurant was found to be ideal location for the center's new home.
AMHERST – The Amherst Survival Center Wednesday purchased the former Rooster’s Restaurant as its new home for $265,000.
In March, Rooster’s accepted the center’s offer , Center Executive Director Cheryl C. Zoll said, but officials had 90 days to investigate the cost of renovations, develop a finance plan and have the premises inspected before the sale could be finalized.
The building was owned Leonard E. and Marion K. Perley.
The Survival Center since 1975 has provided services from the basement of the town-owned North Amherst School on North Pleasant Street. In recent years, the center has expanded its services and that put a strain on the limited space.
After a committee evaluated more than 30 sites, Zoll said, the former restaurant was found to be ideal because it’s near the current North Amherst location, will provide between 6,000 and 7,000 square feet of space – double what the center has now – and already has a kitchen. The restaurant has been closed for about two years, she said.
“The property meets all of our major criteria, including affordability, location and access by public transportation,” Zoll said in a statement announcing the purchase. “The move will allow us to more effectively deliver basic needs services to our clients over the long term.” The space will be renovated and an addition built.
Zoll said Wednesday she’s not yet sure how much money the center will need to raise.” We’re going to be spending the summer carefully planning,” she said. But she said “we are confident we’ll be able to raise enough.”
She expects to announce the fund-raising goal this fall. The planning, fund-raising and building phases are expected to take two to three years.
The Survival Center serves more than 3,000 Hampshire and Franklin County residents each year and has seen a steady increase in the number of people eating meals, collecting food and clothing, and obtaining other services since 2007.