How much would fairgrounds purchase cost Brockton taxpayers?

Chris Helms, The Enterprise
·4 min read

BROCKTON — The old fairgrounds cover 66 acres at the city's southwestern gateway. They're among the last large undeveloped areas of Brockton.

City officials aim to take it off the Carney family for more than $53 million, according to initial figures floated by Mayor Robert F. Sullivan. If the deal goes through, the city would craft a master plan and likely put parts of the sprawling area to different uses. Some might be sold off while others could become senior housing or recreation areas.

Here's how much the city would compensate the longtime owners for each of six parcels, for a total payment of $53,401,165:

  • Main fairgrounds areas (2 parcels): $31,058,990

  • Carney office building parcel: $13,180,835

  • Other areas (3 parcels): $9,161,339

Proposed damages to be paid to Carney family by city of Brockton for taking six parcels at the old fairgrounds. Figures are as of July 25, 2023.
Proposed damages to be paid to Carney family by city of Brockton for taking six parcels at the old fairgrounds. Figures are as of July 25, 2023.

'Very emotional': Brockton Fairgrounds grandstand demolished, city plans to purchase land

The numbers could change. The $53.4M figure came from a professional appraiser, said City Councilor Tom Minichiello, whose Ward 1 includes the six parcels. The next step is for elected officials to discuss the proposal in the city council's finance committee. Whatever recommendation emerges from there would go back to the full city council for an up-or-down vote.

"It's gotta be fair for the taxpayers, it's gotta be fair for the Carneys, it's gotta be fair for everybody," said City Councilor Mark D'Agostino, who represents Ward 3. While the site is in Ward 1, it adjoins both Ward 2 and Ward 3.

What are the fairgrounds worth?

The total appraised value of the six parcels comes to $16,205,700. That's according to city property records dated Dec. 5, 2022. The figure includes the value of both land and buildings. But that's just one way to estimate value. Using a cost approach — how much it would take to build something similar — the city values the properties at $18,759,100. A third method is based on income. That yields the lowest assessment: $10,089,800.

If city councilors approve the deal, the city would borrow the money and issue bonds or notes to fund the project. City officials say taking the land and compensating the Carneys puts the city in control of a crucial undeveloped part of the city. Over the years the Carneys had considered various proposals, including a casino and warehouse hub.

The last Brockton Fair was held in 2019. In 2022, the Carneys decided the fair was over for good after being a staple of city life since 1874.

In recent years, the city paid the Carneys to park school buses and lease space for a school. The district pays $535,000 per year to lease the fairgrounds for bus parking, said Jess Silva-Hodges, chief marketing and communications officer for the schools. The city also pays utilities like water, sewer and electrical, as well as the tax bill that applies to the part of the land the city leases. Silva-Hodges said that even with this lease, the district saved $3.2 million in fiscal 2023 by bringing transportation in-house instead of contracting with a transportation vendor. The school budget includes a separate $160,000 to lease property from the Carneys for the Promise College and Career Academy at 440 Belmont St. A truck driving school also currently uses the property.

Minichiello said the city could in the short run see a small overall savings.

Goal: Get the fairgrounds back on the tax rolls

D'Agostino said he and his city council colleagues will want to see data to support the amount the fairgrounds would be purchased for.

"We don't want to have this on our books [too long]," the Ward 3 councilor said. "We need to be sure we have a good plan when we acquire it and [know] what's the plan to get it back on the tax rolls."

In fiscal 2023, the Carneys paid $421,672 in commercial property tax on the six parcels, according to city property tax records. In fiscal 2022 they paid $396,757.

The C. Carney demolition crew organizes and clears debris on Friday, July 14, 2023, to make greater access for dump trucks to arrive and take it away for disposal after the grandstands at the Brockton Fairgrounds was scheduled to come down on Monday, July 17, 2023.
The C. Carney demolition crew organizes and clears debris on Friday, July 14, 2023, to make greater access for dump trucks to arrive and take it away for disposal after the grandstands at the Brockton Fairgrounds was scheduled to come down on Monday, July 17, 2023.

Minichiello said he'd like to see a master plan finished within a year of the city taking control of the property.

"It's a very important piece of real estate in the city of Brockton," he said, noting that some people consider Belmont Street the city's main street. "You're never going to get to have control of a piece of property that large and that valuable."

Minichiello was especially wary of one potential future: The fairgrounds becoming a transport and warehouse hub, such as for Amazon.

"Do people really want a huge number of tractor trailers coming into Brockton 24/7? We need to be thoughtful and smart," he said.

Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on Twitter at @HelmsNews.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: How much should Brockton pay for former fairgrounds?