CONWAY — The town has found a plot of land that might be suitable for a small affordable senior housing development, which governmental officials want to purchase with Community Preservation Act funds, pending a town vote.
“It’s 201 Maple St., a farmhouse and a large barn. Four acres, four flat acres,” said Housing Committee Chairwoman Pixie Holbrook at a Selectboard meeting Monday night. “The barn is historical, the house is likely to be torn down.”
Following Holbrook’s presentation, the three-member Selectboard voted unanimously to sign a purchase offer for the Maple Street property, which is just outside the center of town.
At an earlier Selectboard meeting last week, Holbrook outlined plans to build 12 affordable senior residences on the land, utilizing existing buildings. If all is approved, the development will give preference to town residents.
Holbrook noted the affordable senior housing project wouldn’t cover the property’s full four acres. Thus, it would preserve land and also preserve the barn — all acceptable uses for Community Preservation Act funds.
“Our hope would be to use the footprint of the house for several units, and possibly the barn for several units,” Holebrook said at Monday’s meeting, adding, “being very conservative about using as little of the land and clustering those together.”
Town records value the property at $251,200. The assessment includes the property’s two-and-a-half story house, valued at almost $180,000 and built in 1850, and the barn, which is listed at $18,100.
“The offer to purchase has been reviewed by town counsel,” said Selectboard Chairman John O’Rourke, noting, “there are several conditions that we have to go through. Essentially, all we’re doing right now is we’re putting down $1,000.”
Because the purchase would be made using Community Preservation Act funds, it “has to go to town meeting” and pass a majority town vote before anything can move forward.
Among other conditions that have to be met, the property will have to pass a percolation test for a septic or leach field. Holbrook said the “primary contingency is whether it can perc test for that many units.”
If the property doesn’t meet contingencies outlined in the purchase agreement, including appraisal, the Community Preservation Act Committee’s blessing and approval on town meeting floor, Holbrook said the down payment is refundable.
“The property is off the market, so that’s giving us some breathing room,” Holbrook said.
“If all those conditions are met, then we’ll move to the next step,” O’Rourke said, before the board took the vote. “Your committee has done a tremendous amount of work on this, and we thank you.”
You can reach Andy Castillo
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