Southborough Historical Society's plan for Fayville Village Hall has hit a snag

SOUTHBOROUGH — A proposal that would see Fayville Village Hall end up as a museum for the Southborough Historical Society has hit a snag as the Select Board and the private historical group disagree over whether future conditions should be placed on the property.

The building is currently owned by local resident Jon Delli Priscoli and his company, First Colony Development of Marlborough. Priscoli announced on Aug. 19 that he intended to sell the building to the Historical Society for $100.

The Historical Society is planning a $1.2 million renovation project that will restore the building's original exterior, convert the basement into a catering kitchen and makerspace, and make the first and second floors a museum, exhibit area and archival center for the society.

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The current Southborough Historical Museum is housed in a much smaller location at the former Flagg School on Common Street.

The Fayville Village Hall building, at 40-42 Central St., was constructed in 1914. It has been used as Southborough Post 44 of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic), a temporary clinic, a senior center and other multipurpose civic uses.

In 2017, Southborough voted at Town Meeting to sell it to a third party due to its lack of use and high maintenance costs.

“The building was in poor condition at the time of the sale, and the town did not want to spend the significant amount of money it would take to properly rehab it,” Select Board Chair Kathryn Cook said during a Select Board meeting on Aug. 26.

Town sells property for $21,000

After initially receiving little serious interest, the town in 2019 received a $21,000 bid from Priscoli’s company. As part of the deal, Southborough was also given the right of first refusal for the property. So in order for the Historical Society to acquire the property, the town would need to waive that right of first refusal.

During the Aug. 26 Select Board meeting, some members said they were worried about immediately waiving the right of first refusal. Member Lisa Braccio said she wants to make sure the town maintains the right of first refusal in case the property goes up for sale again.

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“I would like to see us do our due diligence,” she said. “I’d like to see a preservation restriction be a condition, a right of first refusal be a condition. It’s a valuable piece of property, take away the historic piece to it, and it was sold for $21,000. The town is vested in making sure that it will continue to be preserved and continue to be a great asset for all residents of the town.”

Historical Society declines request for conditions

Society President Michael Weishan said his group has declined the board’s request for new conditions on the property, and hopes to begin construction this fall.

“We have formally declined the selectmen's request for a new preservation restriction and a new ROFR (right of first refusal), and have urged them to move with dispatch in releasing the current ROFR so we can begin construction this fall,” Weishan said. “Once completed, we should have an incredible new arts, culture and history facility entirely paid for with private funds, that will offer classes, workshops, and event space to the people of Southborough and the surrounding towns.”

The Select Board on Aug. 26 declined to make a motion on waiving its right of first refusal. Members will return to subject during their next meeting on Wednesday after having more time to discuss the best path forward.

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Board member Sam Stivers said the acquisition is a beneficial investment for the town and the community, and it shows two different groups working together to improve something in the town.

“I think this is an interesting example of a public-private partnership," he said. "We are using external funding that can be used to do something for the town that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford."

Wednesday's Select Board meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Southborough Historical Society eyes Fayville Village Hall renovation