By Keith Regan, Contributing Writer
Northborough—White Cliffs has been spared from the wrecking ball after Town Meeting voters working past midnight approved spending $2.4 million in Community Preservation funds to purchase and permanently preserve the iconic mansion property.
After more than a half hour of discussion at the April 26 TM, the White Cliffs proposal garnered more than the two-thirds vote it required, sparking a round of applause from the 200-plus voters who spent nearly five hours working its way through the warrant. The final vote was 218-67, in favor of the measure.
Community Preservation Committee Chair John Campbell told voters still on hand when the White Cliffs article—the last on the warrant and one cobbled together rapidly in recent weeks—was brought up for discussion just before midnight that the issue was a matter of true urgency.
“If we don’t act tonight, White Cliffs will be demolished,” he said.
The funding will ensure that White Cliffs remains unchanged because it will purchase a permanent historical preservation easement that will cover both the interior and exterior of the 19th century Victorian mansion regardless of its ownership in the future. “We have an opportunity that is unique and unusual and urgent,” Campbell said.
After detailing the building’s historical and architectural importance—it was built in 1886 by Daniel Wesson, half the Smith & Wesson duo—and its relatively sold current condition, Campbell said that the project would not hurt the town’s ability to do other Community Preservation articles in the future.
The lack of long-range plans for the property troubled some voters, while others urged voters to be optimistic and trust that it could again become a thriving business or cultural center.
“This is the most beautiful building in Northborough,” said Ethan Winter. “It has more character than any other building in town and it’s worth saving.
Others saw a potential money pit in the making. “I think we are being naive,” said Richard Sargent. “We’re taking a big risk.”
“We could end up with a $4 million white elephant,” warned Bill Walters. Resident Bill Oliveira cautioned against making an emotional decision about a financial issue.
But in the end, appeals to voters’ sense of history and community carried the day.
“We have very few artifacts that give us a sense of history and culture,” said Chris Kellogg.
The White Cliffs article was the only one on the warrant that several committees did not offer a recommendation on, as it came together rapidly late in the run-up to the meeting. But before the vote was cast, several officials urged voters to support the plan.
Selectmen Chair Jeff Amberson, noting that his own wedding reception was held at the mansion, said the question before voters was “what do we value?”
“There is money set aside for historic preservation and I can’t think of a better use of money that’s dedicated for historic preservation than to protect arguable the most historic, architecturally significant and most beautiful building in town.”
Northborough Town Meeting saves White Cliffs from the wrecking ball
By Keith Regan
Contributing Writer
Northborough—White Cliffs has been spared from the wrecking ball after Town Meeting voters working past midnight approved spending $2.4 million in Community Preservation funds to purchase and permanently preserve the iconic mansion property.
After more than a half hour of discussion at the April 26 TM, the White Cliffs proposal garnered more than the two-thirds vote it required, sparking a round of applause from the 200-plus voters who spent nearly five hours working its way through the warrant.
The negotiated purchase price is $1.75 million–slightly below a recent market appraisal– with the remaining $650,000 set aside for carrying costs such as securing the estate and funds that will be used to estimate the cost of bringing the structure to current building codes and to develop a long-range plan for returning the property to active use.
Community Preservation Committee Chair John Campbell told voters still on hand when the White Cliffs article—the last on the warrant and one cobbled together rapidly in recent weeks—was brought up for discussion just before midnight that the issue was a matter of true urgency.
“If we don’t act tonight, White Cliffs will be demolished,” he said.
The funding will ensure that White Cliffs remains unchanged because it will purchase a permanent historical preservation easement that will cover both the interior and exterior of the 19th century Victorian mansion regardless of its ownership in the future. “We have an opportunity that is unique and unusual and urgent,” Campbell said.
After detailing the building’s historical and architectural importance—it was built in 1886 by Daniel Wesson, half the Smith & Wesson duo—and its relatively sold current condition, Campbell said that the project would not hurt the town’s ability to do other Community Preservation articles in the future.
The lack of long-range plans for the property troubled some voters, while others urged voters to be optimistic and trust that it could again become a thriving business or cultural center.
“This is the most beautiful building in Northborough,” said Ethan Winter. “It has more character than any other building in town and it’s worth saving.
Others saw a potential money pit in the making. “I think we are being naive,” said Richard Sargent. “We’re taking a big risk.”
“We could end up with a $4 million white elephant,” warned Bill Walters. Resident Bill Oliveira cautioned against making an emotional decision about a financial issue.
But in the end, appeals to voters’ sense of history and community carried the day.
“We have very few artifacts that give us a sense of history and culture,” said Chris Kellogg.
The White Cliffs article was the only one on the warrant that several committees did not offer a recommendation on, as it came together rapidly late in the run-up to the meeting. But before the vote was cast, several officials urged voters to support the plan.
Selectmen Chair Jeff Amberson, noting that his own wedding reception was held at the mansion, said the question before voters was “what do we value?”
“There is money set aside for historic preservation and I can’t think of a better use of money that’s dedicated for historic preservation than to protect arguable the most historic, architecturally significant and most beautiful building in town.”
Northborough Town Meeting saves White Cliffs from the wrecking ball
By Keith Regan
Contributing Writer
Northborough—White Cliffs has been spared from the wrecking ball after Town Meeting voters working past midnight approved spending $2.4 million in Community Preservation funds to purchase and permanently preserve the iconic mansion property.
After more than a half hour of discussion at the April 26 TM, the White Cliffs proposal garnered more than the two-thirds vote it required, sparking a round of applause from the 200-plus voters who spent nearly five hours working its way through the warrant.
The negotiated purchase price is $1.75 million–slightly below a recent market appraisal– with the remaining $650,000 set aside for carrying costs such as securing the estate and funds that will be used to estimate the cost of bringing the structure to current building codes and to develop a long-range plan for returning the property to active use.
Community Preservation Committee Chair John Campbell told voters still on hand when the White Cliffs article—the last on the warrant and one cobbled together rapidly in recent weeks—was brought up for discussion just before midnight that the issue was a matter of true urgency.
“If we don’t act tonight, White Cliffs will be demolished,” he said.
The funding will ensure that White Cliffs remains unchanged because it will purchase a permanent historical preservation easement that will cover both the interior and exterior of the 19th century Victorian mansion regardless of its ownership in the future. “We have an opportunity that is unique and unusual and urgent,” Campbell said.
After detailing the building’s historical and architectural importance—it was built in 1886 by Daniel Wesson, half the Smith & Wesson duo—and its relatively sold current condition, Campbell said that the project would not hurt the town’s ability to do other Community Preservation articles in the future.
The lack of long-range plans for the property troubled some voters, while others urged voters to be optimistic and trust that it could again become a thriving business or cultural center.
“This is the most beautiful building in Northborough,” said Ethan Winter. “It has more character than any other building in town and it’s worth saving.
Others saw a potential money pit in the making. “I think we are being naive,” said Richard Sargent. “We’re taking a big risk.”
“We could end up with a $4 million white elephant,” warned Bill Walters. Resident Bill Oliveira cautioned against making an emotional decision about a financial issue.
But in the end, appeals to voters’ sense of history and community carried the day.
“We have very few artifacts that give us a sense of history and culture,” said Chris Kellogg.
The White Cliffs article was the only one on the warrant that several committees did not offer a recommendation on, as it came together rapidly late in the run-up to the meeting. But before the vote was cast, several officials urged voters to support the plan.
Selectmen Chair Jeff Amberson, noting that his own wedding reception was held at the mansion, said the question before voters was “what do we value?”
“There is money set aside for historic preservation and I can’t think of a better use of money that’s dedicated for historic preservation than to protect arguable the most historic, architecturally significant and most beautiful building in town.”
The negotiated purchase price is $1.75 million–slightly below a recent market appraisal– with the remaining $650,000 set aside for carrying costs such as securing the estate and funds that will be used to estimate the cost of bringing the structure to current building codes and to develop a long-range plan for returning the property to active use.
