Lebanon
Built around 1950 on the site of the former Garrish mansion, its three service bays, gable roof and cupola have all adorned the property for decades, according to documents submitted during creation of the city’s historic district.
But the well-regarded mechanic’s business facing Colburn Park could wind up closing in the next year or two, as the Lebanon Housing Authority eyes the space for future apartments.
The housing authority has submitted preliminary applications to the Lebanon Planning Board and the Heritage Commission proposing to build a four-story apartment building on the site. At roughly 30,000 square feet, it would be capable of housing 30 low-income apartments, including 22 one-bedrooms and another 8 for two-bedroom units.
The housing authority has also signed an option-to-purchase agreement with owners Cathy and Gregory Giguere, Ditha Alonso, the authority’s executive director, said at a Heritage Commission meeting earlier this month.
“We’ve only just started this process so it’s really in its infancy stages,” Alonso said in an interview on Thursday, adding that the start of construction could still be 18 months to two years away.
Whether it’s mixed-use or senior housing, she said, the Upper Valley is in need of more affordable apartments, and the project will help meet those needs.
Since the shop is a part of the Colburn Park Historic District, the Heritage Commission is reviewing the project and its impact to nearby historic buildings.
But unlike most buildings on the green, the garage isn’t considered a “contributing property” in the district, meaning the commission hasn’t considered it as adding historic value to the nature of downtown.
Commission Chairman Robert Welsch told members during an April 13 meeting that the state has been pushing the city to adopt that designation for years.
“I have been dragging my feet on that because I didn’t know what was going on with the gas station,” he said in an audio recording of the meeting.
Although the Housing Authority appears eager to get the project moving, its filing of applications has led to some consternation from the building’s current owners and City Council members.
Cathy Giguere said on Thursday that the idea of selling the business came during friendly conversations with authority staffers. Since the area needs more affordable housing, she offered to sell the building to help.
But Giguere said the property hasn’t been sold yet, and won’t until the Housing Authority can secure funding for the project. She also expressed dismay that news of the sale could drive away business, leading people to think the shop is closing.
If the authority can get its grant money and raise the needed money, the Gigueres will sell.
“If they can’t, it stays as a garage,” she said.
The property is currently assessed at $317,700 and sits on a quarter acre of land, according to city assessing records.
City Council members were taken aback that they weren’t notified of the project before the Planning Board and Heritage Commission.
“Did they not think it would be a good idea to come in and talk to us about this?” Councilor Karen Liot Hill said at the City Council meeting on Wednesday. “I’m pretty frustrated about this and quite honestly, pretty shocked.”
She said the council and authority have worked together in the past and was surprised that the authority didn’t ask to collaborate this time around too, calling the move “pretty disrespectful.”
“It feels out of sync,” said Councilor Suzanne Prentiss. “It we’re all in this together, it doesn’t really feel like we’re all in this together.”
Councilor Timothy McNamara said he was told of the project by residents and was also surprised. He said it seems like the authority “literally just dropped off the application at the planning office and that’s it.”
“It’s absolutely front and center and will change that corner forever,” he said.
Interim City Manager Paula Maville said she’s aware of two meetings between the authority and city but “we weren’t necessarily aware that it was actually going to happen until the applications came in.”
In a phone interview on Thursday, Liot Hill, who runs the Lebanon Diner on the Mall, also said the mechanic’s shop has a good reputation among Lebanon-area residents.
“I think Roy’s has been a really solid business there,” Liot Hill said.
If it’s the owners’ choice to begin the process of selling it, she said, there should be a community-wide discussion of what might be best for that corner, one that doesn’t just include residential development but also commercial and economic development.
Alonso, the Housing Authority director, said the Housing Authority is trying to work with the city to gather opinions. She believes the Upper Valley would benefit from the project, but she also wants city officials to be comfortable with the plans.
The project also came about so quickly that the authority is still learning how to best go about soliciting the opinions of city officials, she said.
The Heritage Commission will take up the project again when it meets at 7 p.m. on May 11 at City Hall. The Planning Board is also scheduled to begin reviewing the proposal at 6:30 p.m. on May 9 at City Hall.
Tim Camerato can be reached at tcamerato@vnews.com or 603-727-3223.