Williamstown OK's Property Sale for Affordable Housing
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A long vacant property on Main Street will hopefully become a new home for a deserving family.The board approved a motion on Monday night to sell the so-called Danaher property for affordable housing, with the purpose of conveying the title to Habitat for Humanity.
Town Manager Peter Fohlin said he had been approached by John "Jack" Madden, a member of the board of directors for Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity and former selectman, that the nonprofit might be interested in fixing up the property.
The house at 37 Main St. was taken in November 2007 for $16,363.18 in delinquent taxes, water/sewer charges and other fees. Interest and maintenance has brought that total to $18,784.01 so far, said Fohlin.
A public auction in January failed to solicit a bid and no other interest in the property has occurred.
The town can place a restriction on the property to promote affordable housing. The motion stated the sale must be to "an individual or family whose income is 50 percent or less of the median in Berkshire County." The restriction should deter anyone seeking to "flip" the house, said Fohlin, although no one has expressed any interest in doing so. The details of the sale will be made by the treasurer/collector and town counsel.
Fohlin said it would be good outcome for the land; four neighbors who attended the meeting agreed.
"Bill Danaher was a lifelong resident of Williamstown," said Selectwoman Jane Allen. "I think he'd be very pleased with this outcome as well."
■ The board also approved one-day wine and malt licenses for four Williams College home football games and a senior class event on the quad in November. An application by Mezze Events at 777 Cold Spring Road for a liquor license was withdrawn because the operation will be a catered function hall not requiring a restaurant or innkeeper license. The former Le Jardin was purchased by Mezze partners Bo Peabody and Nancy Thomas as the restaurant company's headquarters.
■ Signed a water and sewer warrant for $202,881.94.
■ Endorsed a U.N. proclamation calling for the Developing a Global Partnership for Development, one of the United Nation's Millennium Goals, and recognizing Oct. 24 as U.N. Day. Last year's proclamation (all are provided by the United Nations) focused on sustainability issues and sparked discussion amongst the board members on whether to approve it.
■ Authorized short-term borrowing of $827,000 in anticipation of state reimbursement of Chapter 90 monies for work at Field Park. The town has spent about $2 million on road projects, including the upfront costs for the rotary, said Fohlin, requiring borrowing at this point until taxes begin to flow into the town's coffers next month.
The Selectmen praised the work and planning down by Fohlin and the Department of Public Works on the project.
"I think there was good thinking and good planning behind it," said Chairman Thomas Costley. "The people coming from Route 2 will slow down and won't fly through that intersection."
"It's not sexy stuff, it's just a road," he continued. "But it's important stuff and it takes a lot of thinking and planning."
