Adams Memorial Building Sale Closing Inches Forward
ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen on Wednesday voted final ratification of the sale of the Memorial Building to developer Michael Mackin.
Mackin was the only bidder in the last request for proposals and plans to invest up to $13 million into the former school building for 25 apartment units, of which around five will be affordable, commercial space in the cafeteria and renovations to the gym area that will be leased back to the town for community use.
The sale had been approved by town meeting and a lease agreement by the Selectmen last December.
"They want just additional affirmative language authorizing the sale of the property and authorization to execute all the documents, which include the deed, the development agreement, lease, etc.," said attorney Lee Smith of KP Law, the town counsel. "In my view, it's a little bit of overkill, but nothing extraordinary to ask for."
Mackin has already delivered a $50,000 check to purchase the building but documentation confirming the Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee's vote to turn over the building to the town is holding up the closure.
"They do the title examination, and the title company reviews everything going back historically 50 years, give or take, and they presented what's called a title objection letter, which is not uncommon," said Smith, participating over Zoom. "They provide us with a list of things they wanted to wanted us to address. Quite a few of them have to do with the prior regional school district as well as the current one."
He is working with the school district's attorneys to track down minutes by what was then the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District to document that the district terminated its rights to the property to satisfy Mackin's title insurance company. He anticipated that would be cleared up within days.
The school, then a middle school, closed in 2009 but reopened for a year for use during the Hoosac Valley High School project.
Selectman Joseph Nowak asked if they should hold off on a vote because of the title; Smith did not think that necessary since Mackin would not close before the title was cleared but Nowak was the lone no vote on ratifying the documents over his concerns.
The board did vote unanimously to confirm its ownership and responsibility over maintaining a fence at Adams Memorial Park, adjacent to the school building.
"I'd say that the request here is really just to make it clear that the the maintenance of fence will not be the buyer's obligation," said Smith. "It's not part of the property that's being sold. So it just want to make sure that the town acknowledges that remains the town obligation."
In other business:
• The board, sitting as the Licensing Board, approved one-day licenses for the Bounti-Fare to serve at the Adams Theater on July 26 and Aug. 8 from 6 to 10 p.m. and Aug. 23 from 6 to 11 p.m.
• The board approved the acquisition of permanent and temporary rights of way to allow for the replacement of the Quality Street bridge and a construction of a temporary utility bridge. Community Development Director Donna Cesan said the offers of compensation were based on reviews by a qualified appraiser and were sent out on June 19. Smith said they were of "relatively low value."
One of the five is 7 square feet and is being donated to the town, said Cesan, and the town and state Department of Transportation have been working with abuttor Amy Cary of Grove Street, who is concerned about the impact to a large maple tree on her property.
"So the temporary roadway will go on Amy's property and then cross the Ashuwillticook to provide access for property owners on Willow Street," said Cesan. "She explained one of the reasons she bought the property because she has this lovely maple tree on her property, and rightly so, she's worried about it. DOT has involved their landscape architect. We actually are arranging another meeting on site, meeting with her to see what special protections can be taken during the construction process."
Acquiring the rights of way is the obligation of the town and will be paid out of state Chapter 90 road funds; the bridge construction is estimated $4 million and is being fund through the county's 2025 Transportation Improvement Program.
• The board also discussed the use of volunteers at the Greylock Glen without have a director. Cesan said the town is working on having an employee there with volunteers and the hours its open until a director can be put in place. After the meeting, Selectwoman Ann Bartlett, who is on the search committee, said the committee has been doing interviews and is close to putting forward a candidate.
Tags: bridge project, memorial building,
