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Christy Bourtin is disappointed to hear the town plans to demolish the 110-year-old town garage on the north side of Mead Park. If the building's fate were up to her, it would be transformed into a speakeasy or quaint venue where ladies could enjoy wine and cheese while looking at the geese and pond on an afternoon or early evening out.
"My girlfriends and I would be there," says Bourtin, who lives across the street from the park and less than a block from the old town garage. "I think something can be done with it."
Town officials, however, are forging ahead with plans to demolish the garage, which is now used only used to store scrap materials. The town will present its plan to the town's Historic Review Committee at a meeting Friday at 10 a.m. The committee could request that the building be left standing for a while so it can be photographed for historic purposes.
Assistant Public Works Director Tiger Mann said it makes little sense to keep the building standing since it is not used by the DPW for much and would cost more to renovate. Demolition will cost around $35,000, Mann said.
And it would give the town expanded use of the northern end of Mead Park, he said. Among the possible plans for the spot are adding walking trails and building a gazebo. "A lot of people have said that it is an eyesore," Mann said. "The northern end of the park is underutilized."
Bourtin agrees the garage, in its current state, is an eyesore. But she sees a chance to do something unique with an old space. She believes Starbucks could make good use of the building.
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