Continuing costs, little funding — but the town is attached to One Grafton Common

The Grafton Town House needs some million dollar fixes and the town is once again faced with a dilemma: is it worth spending money on a town-owned building that isn’t turning a profit?

“As a business person myself, I don’t see anyone wanting to deal with this,” Select Board member Ann Marie Foley said. “But at the same time, this is the cornerstone, in my opinion, of the Common.”

Town Administrator Evan Brassard told the Select Board he’s examining the town’s commitment to the historic building, which served as the town’s center of government for more than a century. It’s hosted town meetings, dances, concerts, basketball games, and graduations. Stores and businesses have cycled in and out of its storefront.

And in 2007, the town considered selling the building, which was suffering from years of postponed maintenance. The solution — entering into an agreement with Apple Tree Arts, which pledged to raise $1 million toward repairs and accessibility in exchange for a longterm $1-a-year lease of the second and third floors.

But the building, which is one both the state and national registers of historic places, continues to cost the town money. Besides Apple Tree Arts, a second master lease is held by Sean Padgett, who is responsible for building maintenance and the remaining tenants, including his own bar, the Town House Tavern.

“I think it’s unusual that you own a building with a bar in it,” Brassard said.

Any repairs to the building could be raised through capital funding or ARPA funds — or the town could try to divest itself from the building.

“I look at this as a bad deal… we have to either deal with it or get out of it,” Select Board member Ray Mead said. “If it is a salable building, it’s going to be for nothing.”

Select Board Chair Colleen Roy was unwilling to consider ARPA funding for One Grafton Common.

“Does it really make sense to put taxpayer dollars into this building?” she asked. “I think of the schools, and the roofs they need, and other municipal buildings.”

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