March 13, 2025
Shaw Local
NewsSubscribePrep SportsObituariesFriday Night DriveeNewspaperLocal EventsShaw Local RadioStarved Rock Country

Move-in day: Utica opens new village complex

Officials reached self-imposed deadline of repurposing the former Waltham South School

By Tom Collins
Almost moved in. Kathy Lewis of the Utica Village Clerk's Office empties file boxes to her desk cabinet as Utica completed Wednesday the move into the new village hall.

Almost moved in. Kathy Lewis of the Utica Village Clerk's Office empties file boxes to her desk cabinet as Utica completed Wednesday the move into the new village hall. (Tom Sistak for Shaw Media)

The foot traffic was quite limited Wednesday, but that probably had more to do with the cold (16 degrees at lunch time) rather than any confusion over where to pay their bills.

Despite the limited activity at the walk-up window, Wednesday was a momentous day for the village of North Utica. The new municipal complex, locating in the former schoolhouse, was officially opened for business and ended a months-long transfer from the old village offices to the new.

Mayor David Stewart said he’ll know in a few days how the complex is working out, but so far the tours he’s led have yielded good feedback.

“The residents I have spoken to that have seen (the new complex) are very happy with the results,” Stewart said, “and believe it is a great location.”

Actually, the cold front might have come as a blessing for village staff, which was busy enough completing the transfer. The village offices were closed Monday and only just reopened, giving office workers a limited window to fire up the computers and fill the file cabinets.

“We’re still unpacking,” Jamie Turczyn, director of village affairs, said Wednesday morning just a few hours after opening.

What's going on in Utica these days? Come down the new village offices and see for yourself. Jamie Turczyn, director of village affairs, begins adding village information to the bulletin board situated at the entrance of the new village hall, which was opened Wednesday to the public. (Tom Sistak)

Village officials made their self-imposed deadline of repurposing the former Waltham South School (the Utica Grade School before that) by New Year’s Day. The bulk of the work was completed in time for the December meeting to be in the new council chambers.

Establishing a new village complex was a pet project for Stewart, a former Waltham grad who quietly approached the Waltham Elementary School District to inquire about the downtown school after Waltham built a larger facility just south of U.S. 6. Stewart and school officials soon shook on a $135,000 deal for the 50-year-old building.

Stewart quickly won over any skeptics. The school provided the village with a three-fold increase in available space, much of it available to the public. There is a community room with a refrigerator and portable chairs and tables for conferences and parties. The school gymnasium now serves as a village recreation center.

The new Utica Village Hall is officially open for business. (Tom Sistak)