Selectmen voted to authorize Weitz to prepare the building for sale with the stipulation that the exterior of the building be preserved along with the historic features.
10.02.2003 | FILE – The Wilbraham Grange Hall on Main Street is seen.WILBRAHAM – The Board of Selectmen has voted to authorize Town Administrator Robert A. Weitz to prepare to advertise the vacant Grange Hall at 485 Main Street.
Selectmen have been seeking a reuse for the building since the town took it over from the Wilbraham Grange in 2004 after the Wilbraham Grange announced it was merging with the Palmer Grange.
Voters at the annual Town Meeting in June gave selectmen authorization to dispose of Grange Hall, provided they return to Town Meeting if they want to demolish the building.
Selectmen voted to authorize Weitz to prepare the building for sale with the stipulation that the exterior of the building be preserved along with the historic features.
Selectmen did not vote to require that the building be used for residential use.
Gerda Trzeciha, a town resident, told selectmen she does not want to see the building become commercial. Trzeciha said she wants to see the center of Wilbraham preserved as a residential center.
A reuse for Grange Hall has been difficult to find because the building does not have enough land for parking.
Selectmen authorized the town administrator to seek proposals from a private owner to take over the building, Pamela Beall, secretary to the Board of Selectmen, said. No sale price will be posted with the advertisement, Beall said.
Any change in use would be referred to town regulatory boards such as the Planning Board or the Zoning Board of Appeals, Beall said.