An effort by city leaders to buy an old three-decker house next door to Muzzy Field is being greeted with skepticism by the Board of Finance.
Fiscal overseers recently refused to approve a $205,000 proposal to buy the house at 262 Park Street, but reserved the right to reconsider the move later.
Finance board members said they didn't have enough information about the Park Board's plans for the property or its vision for the area surrounding Muzzy Field and Rockwell Park.
"What's the overall plan?" asked Janet Moylan, a finance commissioner.
Mayor Art Ward said the purchase is part of a long-term effort to snap up the private property between Muzzy Field and Park Street when it's available for sale. He said several other parcels have already been purchased over the years.
"The goal is to open up that whole frontage," Ward said, to make the historic ballpark easier to see and appreciate from the road.
In addition, park officials have said they would like to build a small sports museum outside the gates to the ballpark someday.
The city's Real Estate Committee agreed in March to ask the mayor to negotiate with the three-decker house's owner, Richard Ferrucci, who is seeking $200,000 for the house. Finance officials were asked to tack on another $5,000 to pay for closing costs.
Both the Park Board and the City Council have given their blessing to the proposal.
Mark Peterson, a finance commissioner, said that more money will be needed to knock down the house and make the lot attractive.
Finance Chairman Rich Miecznikowski said the city could pay for the purchase with interest that has piled up in a capital improvements fund, but that once that's tapped out, there isn't money for "any other large items."
He said that if the finance board backs the purchase, every other significant request for cash will have to go through the budget process for possible inclusion in the city's spending plan that takes effect each July.
John Smith, who also serves on the finance board, said that there's an opportunity to buy the house now. Doing so would keep it from landing in the hands of another out-of-town landlord, a growing problem in town.
But skeptics carried the day, with Peterson, Ron Messier, Moylan and Finance Vice Chair Roald Erling voting no to match the four votes in favor. One member was absent at the session.
However, Messier revised his vote to table rather than kill the proposal, which allows the board to reconsider it more easily.
Another house the city is eyeing beside Rockwell Park, at 15 Dutton Avenue, is back in the hands of the Real Estate Committee, Ward said.
A family feud and court fight has made officials skittish of pushing forward with its purchase.
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
12 comments:
Let me see if I get this straight ...... The city government wants to BUY land from a landowner ?? I guess that's a little better than using eminent domain and forcing folks into the street . But wait .... Doesn't the city already own multiple parcels in dire need of attention ??? It seems to me there is a State LAW which governs the amount of property that can be owned by a local government . Maybe Steve or someone else has that answer . The next question would be .... Just how much tax free property does the city now own ???
Having a clear view from the street of Rockwell Park is obviously one of the city's most pressing needs.
Thats the same stuff that the bd of fi. pulled in the early 80s when RALPH P wanted to by the whole bunch of houses so now it costs a hell of alot more lets buy now and get it done
Why doesn't the Park Board use its own money to buy this house? They have a trust fund that is hugely endowed.
The Park Dept cant use their endowment because instead of doing things like this with that money, which makes sense and saves cents, the Brd of Finance deducts the amount of the trust income from the amount it costs to run the Park Dept. So its a $2 million dept. They get $500k from trusts. The Brd of Finance only gives them $1.5 instead of $2 mill with a $500 account to do special projects & other improvements with. Makes no sense to anyone other than Rich Mize who will go down in history as one of the worst chairman for benign negligence.
The house in question is across from the former AWARD Cafe and the current mayor has identified this house as the potential location of the future Ward Mayoral Library.
This is the type of thing that the conveyance tax was meant for....a one time expenditure that wasn't put in the budget. This is a no brainer. The market is down, prices are down....whats the problem.....do we want to wait till the market rebounds and the price is over $275,000? The city council has this one right....buy the hosue now!
Maybe Rich Mieznikowski would rather have the city keep the money on hold so that later on he can sell the city some of the dozen or so houses him and his brother own.
Isn't this the same house that is in the middle of a family dispute?
Why would the city want to get in the middle of this.
differant house . how about all the money that is or was returned to the city from the park budget?
Trust funds are not for buying realestate - there are limitations on the trusts funds. But then if you knew anything about city $$ you would know that rather then make dumb remarks such as this.
The Board of Finance and the City council (last one) were aware of the Park Boards interest and outline of what they wanted to do, over 4-5 years.
Cost would be close to 1 million, but that was stated up front.
Board of Finance is just playing games, asking for more information, now.
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