BURRILLVILLE – The single story building on North Main Street that once held the town’s Parks & Recreation Department is up for sale following the move pf staff last year to a new headquarters on Clear River Drive.
Situated on a .16 acre lot in Pascoag, the concrete and brick structure at 92 North Main St. features two small offices and a walkout basement. Built in 1950 according to town property records, the small building has a bathroom, closets and a walkout basement leading to a paved parking lot.
The building has been vacant since recreation officials joined the Public Works Department in new, spacious, modern digs at 200 Clear River Drive. That property boasts a 27,000-square-foot facility that also replaced DPW’s former headquarters on Union Avenue in Harrisville.
The town first attempted to sell the Pascoag property via a request for proposals in September that included an open house.
“Our attempt to put an RFP out didn’t work,” Public Works Director Jeff McCormick told the Town Council at a meeting Wednesday, Oct. 27. “No one bid on it.”
This week, McCormick asked councilors to officially declare the property as surplus, a process that allows the town to take the next steps to attract a buyer. The director said the next move is to list the lot for $125,000 on govdeals.com, a website where municipal land from across the country is sold, “as is,” by auction to the highest bidder.
If nothing happens there, McCormick said, the town will begin the process of choosing a realtor.
While there is no kitchen in the building, it is free from asbestos and other hazardous materials, he said, noting that the town has completed two environmental assessments.
“The issue was the groundwater contamination from the MBTE,” McCormick said, referencing long known pollutants from a gas station that was once in the area. Remediation has been underway for several years.
Councilor Raymond Trinque said he’d be happy to see the town accept much less than the proposed $125,000.
“Any reasonable offer, $50,000, $60,000…returns into the tax rolls,” Trinque said. “I would lower the price to put it into a deal.”
Councilor Jeremy Bailey, who works professionally as a real estate agent, said he wouldn’t recommend reducing the price until the town tries more traditional sales methods.
“I wouldn’t lower it just yet,” Bailey said.
