Milton officials give up on controversial property purchase

Milton officials have finally decided what to do with 112 Federal St.: Put it back on the market.

Milton Mayor Marion Jones and Town Council unanimously voted Aug. 4 to sell 112 Federal St., purchased as an investment by the town in December 2013, after months of debate about what to do with the property. Council Treasurer Michael Cote was not present at the meeting.

The decision to sell the historic home came after mayor and council solicited suggestions for potential uses for the property from both department heads and residents, who suggested repurposing the property for city offices as well as selling it. Only five residents responded to a request for feedback made on the town's website, with four responses advocating the sale of the property and a fifth requesting that whoever made the purchase be fired.

Jones said two recommendations from department heads showed merit. The first came from Town Project Coordinator John Collier, who suggested using first-floor space in the four-bedroom house to relocate the code department, which currently is housed on the second floor of Town Hall located across the street at 115 Federal St.

The second came from an engineer with Pennoni Associates Inc., who suggested taking advantage of the property at the rear of the parcel while working with neighboring property owners on easements to establish entrances and exits to the property in addition to the existing driveway.

“I consider this property an investment and I continue to stand by my remarks,” Jones said. “Milton is continuing to show a steady growth pattern and town services will eventually need to expand to keep up. Contrary to some public opinion, I did not buy this property on my own. However, I do believe the time has come for definitive action rather than have this subject loom over [us] any longer.”

Due to a lack of capital funds for engineering studies or any upgrades that would make the two-story house built in 1890 ADA-compliant, Councilman Emory West - who voted against the 2013 property purchase - made a motion to sell the nearly half-acre parcel and historic home.

“It's nothing but a white elephant on our backs, and there's no need to throw good money after bad,” West said.

Councilwoman Stell Parker-Selby, who originally voted in favor of the purchase, said because the original intent of using the property for additional town parking was not a viable option, coupled with the controversy surrounding the $150,000 price tag of the purchase, that selling it and moving on was the best option.

“Although I still believe we're not making any more land, and this is valuable to us at this time, I have to say we are facing an extremely tough budget,” Jones said. “At this point, though I regret, I vote to sell the house as well.”

Now that the decision to sell has been made, town officials will begin contacting local realtors to handle the sale. Town Solicitor Seth Thompson suggested contacting a minimum of three realtors for proposals and a market analysis of the property. Mayor and council will then have to approve a realtor and a listing price, Thompson said.