Wilber School Redevelopment Committee

Approved Minutes of December 13, 2004

Attendees:            Bob Levin, Michael Baskin, Joel Tran, David Gordon, Marilyn Kahn, Jim Glaser, Craig Edwards, David Dupree, Jim Goldsmith, Melissa Mills

The meeting was called to order at 7:50 by Jim Goldsmith.

Marilyn Kahn provided Clivus New England, Inc. brochures. Clivus provides innovative wastewater designs that are environmentally favorable and should be considered as a solution for the Wilber site.

· Michael Baskin will speak with Eric Hooper to determine how many gallons of effluent the Wilber site can support

· Clivus vs. conventional septic solutions to be explored once flow is determined

· Feasibility of a Clivus system for all or a portion of the project

Possible mix use of building discussed.

Bob Levin will invite Jane Desberg, Executive Director of the Sharon Housing Authority, to the Wed. Jan. 5 meeting. We hope to determine the Authorities interest in:

· utilizing a portion of the building

· expected funding from Mass Housing Partnership

· teaming with a developer

· assistance in the RFP process

New Library space discussed as the town’s priority. We will invite the board of Selectman to a meeting in January and ask them their opinion as to the town’s priority for municipal needs.

New Library, affordable housing and commercial development were discussed as mix use potential for the building. Discussion on what a developer would likely utilize the site/building.

• Housing/highest demand for development
• Office/low priority, low rents and not likely to be developed
• Trader Joes
• Retail/higher demand for development

Steps discussed to achieve a successful outcome at Town Meeting in May.

• Determine septic capacity
•  Determine potential tax credits
• Fine tune and present our options to the Selectmen for reuse using the “Pro Forma Financial Projections”.
• Selectmen to provide the committee with direction for desired use and priority of municipal needs so we can begin RFP
• Write RFP with emphasis on partnership package and see what the response is from developers
• Ad in Real Estate Journals

Land Lease option discussed for term of 50, 60, 99 years. It was projected that the town could write the deal with the understanding we would receive back one floor for municipal use. Developer could then use remaining building and site. Based on a previous space needs study, Town Hall, desiring 14,500 square feet, would fit best in this scenario. The following things were considered:

· What would the domino effect be if Town Hall was moved?

· Library seems to be the priority and the Wilber site seems most appropriate.

· The Wilber site seems to be the nearest thing we have for open space in the center of town.

· The building could potential  be torn down

· Building provides and Iconic quality to the town that would not be duplicated

Desires expressed to refocus the committee to work back from RFP and an end result. We identified the following people we need input from:

• Selectman
• Housing Board
• Planning Board

We need answers to the following questions:

• Can the building/site support a 60,000 sq ft building?
• How much square footage is most needed for municipal use?
• Who can determine our direction for the RFP?
• Who is ultimately making the decision for reuse of the building?
• How will the politics influence the reuse?
• What do we consider as best use?
• How do we arrive at the most viable option?
• How do we balance revenue generated vs. lost opportunity to fill municipal space needs?

The committee would be seeking input developers, neighboring residents, and the community-at-large (in addition to input from the Selectmen, the Planning Board, and the Housing Board).

Proposed agenda for Jan. 5 meeting:

• Jane Desberg, Executive Director, Sharon Housing Authority
• Jim Goldsmith to present potential tax credits

Jim will provide a timeline agenda and reserve space on the warrant for:

• Hazardous waste abatement
• Reuse proposal

December 6 meeting minutes approved

Adjourned 9:33

Respectfully Submitted,

Melissa Shea Mills