Town Seeks Developers for Historic Properties

As the next step in the long process of deciding the best use for two historic properties on the town green, the town of Weston is seeking letters of interest from potential developers to find adaptive reuses of the buildings that would be self-supporting.

According to Town Manager Donna VanderClock, one of the properties in question, the Old Library, is currently empty while the other, the Josiah Smith Tavern and Barn, is partially occupied.

“We need active use” of the properties, VanderClock said. “It’s not good for buildings to be vacant.”

Ideally, she said, the letters of interest will indicate “interested groups or people to see who might want to work together” to occupy the buildings, ensuring that the process will be “cost-neutral” for the town.

“One of the criteria for successful reuse is that (developers do so) without town support,” she said. “Of course, there could also be a single group” or person who ultimately develops one or both buildings.

The topic of how best to repurpose the buildings has been a longstanding one, with suggested uses ranging from a restaurant or café to apartment buildings.

Additional information, including an official request for letters of interest, is available on the town website. The deadline for letters of interest for the buildings is Dec. 14. Once all letters are received, said VanderClock, the next step in the veting process will be to complete a more formal request for proposals (RFP) by the end of the year.