In 2001 the town came into possession of the Grandview Farm ( Marion Tavern) as the result of a very complex three way land swap. Some will tell you that the impetus behind the acquisition was the desire to acquire and restore the historically significant structure right in the center of town. Others will tell you that is nonsense. No one ever suggested acquiring the property until a large chapter 40B housing project was proposed for the site. Projects of the 40B type are usually met with opposition and this one was no different, suddenly the cry became save the Tavern!
How we came into possession of the property is of little relevance at this point. The central question is after seven years of indecision is what should we do next?
We can look at 2 town properties as illustrations of what could happen with the Tavern. The Meadowbrook and Wildwood Schools stand as those examples.
This past week, the selected contractor began the demolition of the Wildwood School. After the school was deemed surplus it was turned over to the selectmen and for years stood fallow without the selectmen bringing forth a single proposal to return the building to a useful purpose. In addition, so little preventative maintenance was done that the roof deteriorated to the point where the town had little choice but to destroy the dilapidated structure.
The school committee did make a proposal to turn the school into a kindergarten center but a two thirds bonding vote at town meeting was defeated by a single vote. That particular vote will go down in infamy as the Ways and Means had voted 10 to 4 in favor yet the chairman representing the majority made no presentation and the minority railed against the proposal for 10 minutes. In retrospect we could have renovated for 8.4 million dollars and even if the kindergarten center didn't work out we could have had a newly renovated school to convert back to an elementary. In contrast, the current proposal to replace Memorial is over 25 million dollars but I digress and that is old news and is spilt milk.
The Meadowbrook School has realized an altogether different fate. In the early eighties the Meadowbrook was on a similar track to the Wildwood. A few proposals had been made but nothing came to fruition. In time the town made connection with the Mount Hope Christian School. A deal was reached which basically included the provisions that the town would charge a minimal rent and the school would make capital improvements to the building. Ultimately, as time passed a more market oriented lease arrangement would be arrived at. The property stands today in wonderful shape and now the school management is considering engaging in discussions with the town for an addition to the property.
Can a similar arrangement be found for the Grandview? One of two uses would seem to be able to generate sufficient cash flow to make such a deal possible. First would be an office use, the second and more likely might be the restoration of the property to its original use but as a higher end restaurant and tavern. Such a use might not receive to much opposition since the first proposal during the acquisition was to make over the place into a function center complete with meeting rooms and facilities for corporate meeting events as well as weddings and such. Concerns about size and congestion can be addressed by simply limiting the operation to its current size and to the seating such a building without expansion would be able to accommodate.
What stymied the town's original plan is the over all cost of a public attempt at a historical renovation. Two things make this cost prohibitive. A historical renovation contractor as well the the Prevailing Wage Act would conspire to make every cent spent on the property as absolutely expensive as possible. What was originally thought to be a million dollar plus project has now ballooned into what some have estimated to be three million plus. This has created a funding problem for the leadership since the land swap was sold on the concept that no tax dollars would be spent on the renovation, only proceeds from the swap.
If the town struck a deal with a restaurateur/developer it would avoid the costs associated with public development. A long term lease could be written taking into consideration the present cost of money spent by the developer on the renovation. At the conclusion of the amortization of the build out the town could then receive market rate rent from the property.
If such a private deal cannot be found then few options are left for the town. The do nothing option will make a decision for us. The building is falling down before our eyes and is a wart on the center of the town's nose.
The other option is to abandon the historical renovation idea and simply go for a physical upgrade that will weather proof the outside and improve its appearance to match that of the common. The rest of the internal work can be done spaced out over years when additional funds become available from the sale of the remaining 2 adjacent lots as well as the Mall road residential properties that came as part of the swap deal. (It makes no sense to sell them now at the absolute bottom of the residential real estate market).
Whenever the executive makes decisions they are subject to criticism from some quarter, however, lack of decisive action results in being subject to criticisms from ALL quarters.
Shortly after the town came into possession of the property, approximately 2000 people toured the tavern/farm as part of the Grandview Farm activities. There is and has been public support to maintain this part of our history.
The town has over $800,000 available as well as $200,000 from a state grant and the value of the remaining lots in the deal. Let's forget about any baggage the deal may have and let's concentrate on getting something done. It doesn't have to be a convention center show place or even a functioning office area, it only need look like an 18th century tavern and a 19th century farm house. Mr. Mercier's recent call to fish or cut bait is the right course of action. Letting the place fall down right in front of us is not an option.
