'The longer you kick a can, the more expensive it gets': Years in the works, future of Belmont bank demolition uncertain

BELMONT — The future of an old bank building on Main Street remains unknown, despite approval for demolition at a previous Town Meeting. Removing the structure would allow plans for more green space downtown.

The topic was contentious in front of the selectboard on Aug. 19.

In 2007, voters approved Warrant Article 20, which permitted the demolition of the building with endorsement from three separate boards: the planning board, the conservation commission and the heritage commission. In 2008, a community charrette was held, and suggestions were made to town leaders.

The demolition of the building was suggested, as it would allow the library, gazebo and mill building to be more visible and attractive. Green space with benches and sidewalks would allow for residents and guests to enjoy downtown, in a new way.

Meetings with those boards are finally happening, including the planning board on Monday, Aug. 31, continued due to internet issues from Aug. 24, followed by the heritage commission on Thursday, Sept. 3. The conservation commission already unanimously voted to tear down the building.

“We have received a written response from the conservation commission and they are in full support of the demolition for green space,” said Town Administrator Alicia Jipson.

Public hearings will follow, then the selectboard will take their final vote.

Despite approving the demolition nearly two decades ago, voters have seemingly changed tune given the price tag. The meeting room was packed with residents Aug. 19, many advocating for more information on the structure’s integrity.

“My main concern is, I have not seen an engineer's report saying that everything that you guys are claiming is legit,” said Susan LaRoche, of Scenic Drive.

“Do you, as a taxpayer, want us to spend another $15,000 for an engineer?” board Chair Ruth Mooney responded.

“What about the cost to put in the road two ways, a light pole needs to be replaced and other stuff that could happen?” asked LaRoche.

The cost to taxpayers was of equal concern.

“People are not voting for your budget items, because of the school, that's plain and simple to us. So, when you're putting something forward to us to vote on that's going to cost hundreds and thousands of dollars, we're going to say 'no,'” said Laura Moore, also of Scenic Drive. “We want to have a nice town, we do, but our wallets are just simply getting drained.”

Town leaders believe the building needs to go.

“Let's move forward. We take that building down. Figure $36,000 to tear that building down, and remove everything out, and the highway [department] has the material to bring in to slope that,” said selectboard member Mark Lewandoski. "You'll have all the green space out there with sidewalks to walk around. You can go back to having concerts during the summer.”

To save, or not to save

Keeping the bank building could be troublesome.

Town leaders were quick to point out the associated maintenance costs to upkeep the building, administrative responsibilities and the need for someone to manage the tenants.

“We asked for $300,000. Three hundred thousand dollars to try to do more with this [mill] building and it failed, so people want to keep the mill, but they don't want to put any money in. What's going to happen when the people want to keep the bank building? Where's the money?” asked Mooney.

The retaining wall repair alone could be extensive.

“It's going to require engineering, because of the hydraulic flow of water that's pushing that wall out, so that water is going to have to be addressed,” Lewandoski added. “It's going to have to be maintained somehow, somehow diverted, and a new wall needs to be put back in and correctly, which means you have to dig down to the 4-foot line, to make sure you're below frost line and bring that wall back up.

“It's going to cost a lot of money.”

A bond will be needed to pay for structural repairs.

“If you choose to keep this building, you're going to have to have another large bond that's all costing the taxpayers money,” Mooney said.

A petition may circulate to stop the demolition.

“If there's a group that wants to come forward with a petition, well I would imagine they're going to have a second petition followed with a money number, because it's all fine and good if you want to save that structure, but where's the money to save it?” Mooney asked.

Risk management

“Belmont kicks a can down the road as long as it possibly can,” Lewandoski said. “The longer you kick a can, the more expensive it gets.”

In this case, the longer the unsafe structure is standing, the greater chance of an incident, leaving the town on the hook.

“It's got a failing wall,” Lewandoski said. “The wall is going to collapse, and we would like to get rid of this building as soon as possible, so nothing happens.”

He said the public works department should place material against the wall, to help hold it up, in the interim. Currently, safety sawhorses are positioned near the retaining wall due to sinking pavement.

This will help it, so “either the parking lot doesn't collapse into that hole, or a kid playing in there doesn't get hit by falling rocks. One way or another, when you're looking at risk management, that's a risk that this town can't afford to keep or take, because it's going to cost us in the long run,” Lewandoski said.

No structural engineering study has been done, including about the need for asbestos abatement.

The bank building blocks views of the mill, a building leaders are trying to use for town office space. Tearing down the bank building would help further beautification of downtown.

Nearby, the Belmont Public Library is entertaining a massive expansion project, which will add to the value of a beautiful downtown. It will, though, increase traffic concerns.

Library leaders did entertain the idea of absorbing the bank for a children’s library, but opted to stay with original addition plans.

Now, additional parking would be a positive outcome of the building’s demolition.

“We could actually put diagonal parking up there, to add to the parking situation that we are lacking in this town for the downtown,” Lewandoski said. “It also gives you an absolute direct view of this mill that everyone wanted to retain, which has been nothing but a money pit for the town, and it's going to continue to be a money pit. But we own it, it's ours. We've gone too far now to back out, so let's do the right thing for once, let's get the Town Hall over here like they're supposed to.”

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Katlyn Proctor can be reached at katlyn@laconiadailysun.com or by calling 603-524-0150.