Holyoke Committee Clears Height Permit for Dick's House of Sport at Mall

HOLYOKE — March 23, 2026 — Holyoke's development committee approved a mall height permit and split $1 million in opioid settlement funds at its March 23 meeting. The Committee on Development and Government Relations voted 5-0 to grant a special permit allowing Pyramid Companies to raise the former Sears building at 50 Holyoke Street from 52 feet to up to 70 feet to accommodate a Dick's House of Sport, with a spring 2028 opening targeted. The committee then worked through a spreadsheet allocation of $1 million in state opioid settlement funds — drawn from more than $4.3 million in requests — spreading awards across six providers: $200,000 each to Holyoke Medical Center's recovery coach program, Holyoke Health Center's recovery community support program, and Tapestry Health's harm reduction program; $150,000 to MassHire Holyoke; $120,000 to Providence Ministries; $112,238 to the CHD Dwight Street Drop-In Center; and $17,762 to the Greater Holyoke YMCA. Office of Community Development director Alyssa Zola told the committee she was "very confident in the compliance requirements for everybody but" a police opioid response officer and a fire department ambulance — both of which were left unfunded amid unresolved guidance from the state Attorney General's office. All allocations now go to the full City Council, where the mayor retains authority to adjust them.