HARWICH – Harwich Selectmen want the voters to decide what to do with the former middle school building.
The school has been closed for over a year, with no final decision reached yet on what to do with the building.
At a recent meeting, selectmen decided to pose the three options that the school repurposing committee set before them to voters on a ballot question in May 2017.
Harwich Selectman Angelo La Mantia said there are many factors in determining what to do with the building.
“It’s more than what’s going in the building. It’s what is going in, who does it benefit, and what are the cost implications,” said La Mantia.
The options include demolishing the building, selling it or leasing it to a developer for affordable or senior housing, or retaining it for municipal purposes.
Still, Selectman Linda Cebula said she wants more options for the building.
“We have to get beyond the fluff of the past three years and get to substance,” said Cebula. “If there are people that have ideas, put it down on a piece of paper, actually come up with a plan. It’s got to be concrete to even be considered.”
The school is costing the town up to $150,000 in maintenance costs per year.
That doesn’t include a debt of $200,000 to cover roof repairs.
It will cost the town up to $2.6 million to demolish the building and $3.5 million for a partial renovation if used for municipal purposes. There would be no cost to the town if the building is sold or leased to a developer for affordable or senior housing.
