By Bonnie Adams, Managing Editor
Westborough – An article that would have asked voters at the Oct. 17 Town Meeting ( TM) to approve the demolition of the town-owned Spurr House was taken off the warrant after a survey show the property lines are not what they were thought to be. The resulting new information also negated a Request for Proposal (RFP) that had been issued for the sale of the property.
In late 2014 the town’s American Legion Stowell-Parker Post 163 moved out of the building, located at 7 Parkman St., hat it had used since 1946. Built in 1849, it borders the town’s Forbes Municipal Building (FMB) as well as a private residence owned by Bob and Tania Pano.
Last year the Board of Selectmen had proposed a motion that would have demolished the building.
But in March, Town Meeting approved the recommendations of the Spurr House Committee to try to sell the property instead. If it did not sell in 18 months, the committee supported demolishing the house.
A Request for Proposal (RFP) was then issued for the property.
But at the Board of Selectmen’s Sept. 27 meeting, Dexter Blois, a member of the Municipal Board Committee, said a recent property line survey shows that the lines extend through the parking lot of the Forbes Municipal Building. As a result, selling the Spurr House would create a land locked parcel where the Explorer Post is currently located and eliminates all the parking spots behind the FMB. The RFP was then cancelled based on this new information.
As a result, the MBC put an article on the October 2016 TM warrant to ask voters to rescind the approval to sell the house. They also added an article to demolish the Spurr House instead of redoing the RFP.
After the Blois finished his presentation, the board and Town Manager Jim Malloy discussed the next options available to the town.
Tearing down the house would open up space for much needed parking in the downtown, Malloy said. Current data shows a need for 219 spots but there are only 92 at this time.
“We have to have some alternatives – we need a solution for the parking. The building could be demolished for about $50,000 and make a parking lot,” Malloy said. “If we don’t, I’d like to hear some alternatives.”
Ian Johnson, the selectmen’s chair, said it was a “strong vote” at TM to approve the decision to sell the building.
“Is there a way we can fix the [RFP] and put the house back on the market for 18 months?” he asked.
Malloy said that he could create a new RFP which would include an easement for the property and/or a “friendly eminent domain” clause so that town could continue to access the portion of the property where the parking spots are located, as well as the Explorer Post.
The board approved removing the two articles for the Oct. 17 warrant and to have Malloy work with town counsel to create a new RFP.
Bob Pano, who lives in the residence next to the Spurr House, noted that he and his family had lived there for 45 years.
“We love living here,” he said. “I feel better now knowing that something is being looked into.”
Unfortunately for Pano though, the survey also shows that a fence on his property is actually on the Spurr House property. Malloy asked Pano to call his office so a plan could be implemented to move the fence.