Posted on: December 10th, 2021

900 Pine Transitional GHTM-GHFPD Scenario

 

Transition until a new combined

Fire Barn & Community Center can be constructed

Scenario

1.The GHTM purchases 900 Pine and renovates it minimally to serve as an interim space for use by the community until a new combined Fire Barn and Community Center has been located, designed and construction is ready to begin.

 2. When construction of the new facility is ready to begin, 900 Pine could be sold on the open market for residential use with the proceeds being used toward the matching funds State and Federal grant sources generally require.

Potential Advantages

1.Asset Value: For the GHTM, the purchase price for 900 Pine ($255k + costs and a 2% return) would be circa $85-90k below the current market value (an independent valuation assessed the property in its current condition at $350k). Any renovations undertaken by the community should add to the ultimate value at the time of sale.

2. Fundraising for combined Fire Barn – Community Center: Contributions toward the purchase and renovation of 900 Pine would effectively become contributions toward a new combined Fire Barn and Community Center. Starting now would enable the town to initiate fund raising immediately rather than waiting until a new facility or other arrangements have been conceptualized, located and designed. This would need to be carefully explained to members of the GHTM and GHFPD as well as clearly structured.

3. Tap Historical Preservation Resources: Funds for historical preservation could be tapped from the county for renovation of 900 Pine, thus reducing costs to the community and increasing the ultimate amount of matching funds generated. A potential limitation on this is that preservation funds tend to restrict renovations and modern upgrades may be hard. 

4. Immediate support for GHFPD capacity expansion: Space at 900 Pine could be used to immediatelyalleviate some of the equipment and storage constraints facing the GHFPD assuming the GHTM and GHFPD could reach agreement on cooperation. Even without using any of the open land on 900 Pine, for example, the existing shed could be used to park a UTV and store other equipment. Parking a wildland fire fighting trailer outside on the property would expand capacities further.  This would enable the GHFPD to strengthen rapid response and mitigation capacities immediately rather than waiting for construction of a new station.  A potential concern in relation to this would be the proliferation of FD vehicles on 3 properties.  A couple of old FD pickups are parked across from Finn’s and the positioning of a UTV at Pine might meet some neighborhood opposition.  The impact could be limited by ensuring old FD pickups are either used or removed.

5. Establish Collaboration: Catalyze active collaboration between the GHTM and GHFPD. Joint planning would help to bring the community and GHFPD together.   This would also clearly demonstrate the level of community-district collaboration that major grant funding sources need to see.

Potential Disadvantages

1.Impacts on neighbors: Neighbors have raised concerns over parking, water demand and general non-residential uses. These are all valid concerns and arrangements would need to be structured in a manner that assures everyone that this is a temporary use and would go away by a specific date.

2. Investment risk: Although the property has been valued at $350k, returns would only become “real” when the building is sold. There are also uncertainties in how much renovation would cost, who would do it, and what the county requirements and contributions might be. Returns could, as a result, fall short of expectations. 

3. Slippery Slope: Once 900 Pine begins being used, the community could change its mind about selling or the GHTM and GHFPD could come into conflict with each other. That could result in uses for 900 Pine evolving in ways that are difficult to predict and might not match the desires of neighbors.  To address this an agreement could be drafted and recorded that defines the terms for selling or changing uses. 

Potential Avenues for Mitigating Disadvantages

1.Clear rules and guidelines for use of 900 Pine could be established through the GHTM and GHFPD at the time of purchase to reduce impacts on neighbors. This could address issues such as parking, scale of activities, water use, maintenance, etc.  As noted above, these rules could be written and recorded in a way that ensures that, unlike some prior agreements, they are not lost over time.

2. Investment Risk: The main way of mitigating investment risk would be through broad community support in support of any decision to go forward. This would increase voluntary contributions and the ability to attract grants.  If community support remains divided, risk is probably higher.

3. Slippery Slope: Again, as identified in the first bullet in this section, clearly documented and recorded rules and guidelines could mitigate the risk of a slippery slope.

Marcus Moench

marcus.moench@nullgmail.com