SHELBURNE — If Selectboard members and principals of Ancient Glacier LLC can agree on lease terms, the site of the former Singley’s Furniture building could become a town park or place for outdoor dining, at least temporarily.
Selectboard members reviewed a draft lease agreement between the town and Ancient Glacier this week, but have not signed off on it.
The proposed lease is for seven years and requires the town to agree to pay Ancient Glacier minimum rent of $1,014 per year but not less than the sum of all taxes and fees from the town, fire district and state. Any revenue from the land would be evenly split.
The town would be responsible for liability insurance and have full use of the site as a park or outdoor dining area. Under the terms of the draft lease agreement, the town may put up signs and fences; add plantings, furniture and temporary electricity; and/or erect a pavilion-like structure. The town would be responsible for maintaining the site.
Selectboard members noted they need to determine current real estate and fire district taxes and look at potential rental costs.
Singley’s store closed in 2014 after 67 years in business. The property, at the corner of Bridge Street and Deerfield Avenue, was bought that year for $140,000 by Ancient Glacier LLC, principals of which are Josh Simpson, his wife Cady Coleman, and Susan and Jon Stark.
In 2016, Simpson and Stark told Shelburne Selectboard members they planned to demolish the old building and replace it with a mixed-use complex of retail shops and apartments. Zoning issues regarding parking followed, as well as difficulties securing funding to rebuild. The site has remained structure-free since the building was razed in 2018.
Selectboard members said they will invite Ancient Glacier folks to the table soon to clarify parts of the draft agreement, including the potential revenue notion.
“I don’t have any idea about how actively interested they are in generating income from this land,” said Selectboard member Andrew Baker, adding that his preference would be to use the property as a public park.
Baker noted the potential for musical entertainment, incorporating the space into the annual Moonlight Magic festivities or some other “one-off kind of deal” on the plot, but not using it as an income-generating space.
“I personally would not like to see a lot of commercializing of that land,” he said, “but just a place to sit.”