Dracut’s Marc Dechenes to Open Indoor Baseball Facility
They have both spent time on Major League Baseball diamonds and now they want to share their knowledge with future stars.
Marc Dechenes of Dracut and Mike Glavine of Billerica have applied for a special permit to open an indoor baseball-softball instructional facility in Dracut. The pair has an agreement with the Tucard LLC to lease space on the second floor of a old mill building on Pleasant Street to house Future Stars, a 12-000 square-foot facility. Deschenes, who was acquired by the Boston Red Sox in July 2004 and has played for the organization’s Triple A team in Pawtucket, R.I., told selectmen this week that the facility would be used to by children of all skill levels.
“We have qualified instructors that will teach all the fundamentals of baseball, softball and strength training,” Deschenes said. “This is something that we both think can work very well in Dracut.”
Several issues must be resolved before that can get the green light from selectmen, who agreed to go into extra innings and hold a special meeting on Tuesday.
“I would love to see this happen, I really would,” said Selectman Robert Cox. “But first, we need to see the specific details on paper.”
Concerns were raised about the number of parking spaces and the configuration of the parking lot. There are two loading docks in the proposed parking area, but Dechenes said the tenant, Northeast Paper Box, has assured him that there are no deliveries after 2 p.m. Dechenes plans to open at 2 p.m. on weekdays.
The proposed handicap-accessible spot is also problematic, according to Assistant Town Manager Glen Edwards. The men assured him that they would eliminate three parking spots to come into compliance.
Glavine told the board that the maximum number of people that would be in the facility at one time is 45.
“A lot of our business is predicated on car-pooling and parents dropping off their children for an hour or two,” said Glavine, who had a stint with the New York Mets.
The architects’ notes are insufficient, according to Edwards, and do not specify how code requirements will be met. Dechenes and Glavine said they would supply that information at the next meeting. Fire exits are not shown on the plan. Emergency lighting needs to be installed in the stairwells and “No Parking — Fire Lane” signs must be installed in the alleyway leading to the small parking lot.
“I like this facility,” said Selectman Kenneth Cunha. “I’d like to see it approved with these stipulations. But time is of the essence. It does no good for these men to open up in the spring.”
Chairman James O’Loughlin agreed, but added, “I want to give these gentlemen the opportunity to do this right. This is too good of a project to do it in haste.”
After the meeting, Deschenes said he is excited about having a the facility in his hometown.
“I would be great having a facility like this in Dracut,” he said. “I’m a hometown boy and I know how much this area loves baseball. We’re doing everything we can to meet the requirements.”
February 1st, 2006 at 6:47 pm
I for one am very impressed with these two gentleman, both their baseball skills and their passion/enthusiasm for this facility. I can only hope that the town of dracut will put forth the effort to make this happen.
February 1st, 2006 at 6:50 pm
Yes, I’ve known Marc since high school and he always had a great work ethic and was very passionate about baseball. Good for him.