CONWAY— A proposition to purchase land at 201 Maple St. for a small senior housing development is no longer being considered by the town.
In a recent email, Pixie Holbrook, Housing Committee chairwoman, said plans struck “an impasse,” forcing town officials to stop pursuing an Intent to Purchase agreement for the five-acre parcel, valued by town records at roughly $250,000.
According to Holbrook, the property’s sellers won’t allow the town to complete a percolation test, necessary to see if the property is viable for a proposed 12 residences, “without several contingencies in place.” However, Holbrook continued, “we can’t proceed with those contingencies without the perc test.” Thus, an impasse, and the Housing Committee is back to the drawing board.
This most recent proposal is the latest setback in more than a decade’s work by Holbrook and others toward bringing senior housing to Conway. Last month, the Selectboard voted to put a $1,000 down payment on the property as part of the Intent to Purchase, with the understanding that if seven contingencies weren’t met it would be reimbursed.
Contingencies included passing a percolation test, a town vote, and gaining approval from the town’s Community Preservation Committee.
Moving forward, Holbrook said the committee will continue to search for viable land for a senior housing project, prioritizing town-owned parcels.
You can reach Andy Castillo
at: acastillo@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 263
On Twitter: @AndyCCastillo