[MassHistPres] All Options RFP for Nichewaug Inn & Academy Property on Petersham Common

[Stacia Caplanson]

I wanted to let you know about the recent release of an "All-Options" RFP
for the Nichewaug Inn and Academy property located on the Petersham Common.
The NIchewaug Inn was listed on Preservation Massachusetts' Most Endangered
Historic Resource List in 2003. The following information is from a press
release issued by the town:

At last Thursday night’s meeting the Petersham Selectboard voted to release
an ‘All-Options’ Request-for-Proposals (RFP) for the Nichewaug Inn &
Academy Property located in the town’s historic district adjacent to the
library on the Petersham town common.  At a Special Town Meeting held in
December 2016 the town had voted by a very large margin to authorize the
Selectboard to issue an RFP.  The “All-Options” RFP refers to a range of
use and development options, from proposals that may involve total
demolition to proposals seeking to redevelop all or parts of the existing
structure.



The 6.6 acre Nichewaug property, which has been owned by the town for 10
years, was the subject of a Market & Feasibility study conducted for the
town in 2016 by Ted Carman from Concord Square Planning & Development.  The
study recommended that the town needed to proceed with the removal of the
hazardous materials before seeking offers for the property.  The abatement
and removal of the asbestos and the other hazardous materials on the
property began in May and is now nearing completion.  The town’s planning
consultant investigated possible conceptual options for the town to
consider for the Nichewaug Inn and Academy property and conducted financial
analyses of the possible benefit for the town and the feasibility for a
potential developer to undertake various residential scenarios. These
scenarios differ in how much of the current building  -  the 1899 front
shingled Inn building and/or the 1952 back brick Academy wing  -  would be
demolished and how many residential units or houses might possibly work in
conceptual redevelopment plans for the Nichewaug Inn and Academy property.



The just-released RFP, the 2016 Market & Feasibility study, floor plans,
and a considerable amount of background information about this property can
be found posted on the ‘Nichewaug Property’ web page under the ‘Town
Business’ tab of the Town of Petersham’s website,
http://www.townofpetersham.org/.


All interested people or entities are strongly encouraged to examine the
RFP and consider the possibilities.  Proposals are due by 11 AM on Friday,
January 19, 2018 at the Petersham Town Offices at 3 South Main Street.  For
more information, please contact Henry Woolsey at henrywoolsey at gmail.com or
978-771-2173.



A walk through of the property is scheduled for November 27.


Stacia Caplanson

Preservation Circuit Rider for Central and Western MA

Preservation Massachusetts
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