A consolidated Tisbury Town Hall could be just a stone’s throw away from Main Street, at the former EduComp building.
Although the Tisbury Select Board had endorsed the conversion of the EduComp building into housing in March, the town is heavily considering a shared-use property consisting of both housing and municipal offices.
“The building is iconic and located in the center of the community, which to me is most appropriate for a town hall in terms of service delivery to the residents of the town,” Tisbury town administrator John Grande told The Times in an email. “I believe it is the most affordable option that has presented itself to the town to date.”
Currently, Tisbury town offices are split between 51 Spring Street and the town hall annex at 66 High Point Lane. But a split town hall presents challenges.
While the town seems to be favoring the 4 State Road property, Grande said they will consider it alongside other alternatives. They are also looking at 55 West William Street, but that would require completely new construction, which could cost as much as $20 million.
“I do not think it is in the best interest of the town to borrow twenty million dollars for construction of a new town hall at this time or in five years, knowing what is coming,” he said.
The town will likely have a significant share of the cost for the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School building project.
So, the town needs to look for a”fiscally responsible solution” for the consolidated town hall, Grande said. Grande said the 4 State Road property is a more “timely address.” The EduComp building would be leased with an option to buy.
On Wednesday, July 14, The Tisbury Select Board unanimously approved a five-person Town Hall Consolidation Task Group. The group consists of John Best, Rick Homans, Amy Houghton, Jynell Kristal, and John Schilling.
The task group members’ appointments are through the end of the year. Grande had expressed confidence in the group for their collective experience and knowledge of buildings, real estate, and the town.
“The task group will examine the following considerations: fiscal, site alternatives, space needs, functionality, traffic and parking,” Grande told The Times, adding that consultants and town staff will work with the group on their requested investigations. “The goal is to inform the select board, finance and advisory committee, and planning board as to the findings and conclusions of the task group. The task group members may add to or modify the above tasks.”
As the task group works to determine whether the old EduComp building is a good option to pursue, the members will be engaging with town officials and those involved in the development of the Tisbury Master Plan.
Grande said a final determination on the property will be made before the end of summer.
“This process will ultimately clarify and strengthen the direction that the town ultimately takes towards realizing a consolidated town hall,” Grande said.
If this concept were to work out, the lease to own, it may be one of the first really smarter moves the town would have made in years.
Of course the proof will be the terms of the lease to own and how it’s negotiated.
Better yet, negotiate to buy the building with nominal, acceptable renovations and addition. The town has surplus land around town that can be sold to help off set a purchasing price
It’s about time that the town realized what a perfect solution to the town hall problem the Educomp building presents! My mom, Ruth Stiller, who was born in 1922, remembered when the Town of Tisbury was offered the Marine Hospital (where the MV Museum is now) for only a dollar. It was turned down because it was thought to be too far outside of town in those days. Can you imagine?
No Brainer
This obvious idea was lofted years ago.
Why didn’t the select board take this up then?
We had bad Selectpersons?
Foolish plan for Educomp. Parking is limited, that area is already a traffic nightmare making the existing mess worse, and leasing is throwing money away. Invest in the future. Find a place that is easy to park and visit.
How about out close to airport?
Mark– How many parking spaces do you think are needed ? The current town hall certainly doesn’t have many. There is a public parking lot not more than 100 yards away at the site of the old firehouse. And more at the post office. There is also parking at the bank, the mortgage office and all of main street. They could add handicapped spaces in the back, and physically fit people could do that old fashioned thing, and walk.
Leasing with an option to buy is not simply leasing.
I agree with most of the commenters here that this is a very good idea.
This Islander thinks it’s a fabulous idea for Tisbury!
And maybe Katharine Cornell’s gift to the town could go back to being a theater and performance space?
How do you get past limited parking, dangerous intersection , major rehab will be needed I don’t think our town manager is someone we should listen to in this matter.
Fix the intersection and make more parking or move the Town Hall to Oak Bluffs or West Tisbury.
“Dangerous intersection” ? come on–
Regarding parking it is basically a wash when compared to the current location.
For starters, people seem to forget that the TOWN PARKING LOT is just down the street.
There is enough parking for town employees in the rear of the lot—anyhow, they should be *encouraged* to walk or ride their bikes (they have them, right? And use them to “commute”?)
A few spaces could be saved in the rear of the building for handicapped parking.
The public can find a parking place in town, as they currently do. Possibly on Spring Street . . .
The Educomp building looks to me like a safe building for the secure storage of important Town documents and archives that should be on-site and available to the public, not hidden away somewhere off-site.
The Educomp building was the phone company. My children’s Ti Tia worked there. IN THE LATE 70’S, EARLY 80’S IT WAS THE TISBURY YOUTH CENTER. (I taught a guitar class there.) Did the Town of Tisbury lease or own the building then? Also, in the history of the building, Charlie Esposito’s Audiolutions was once in the cellar, and Daggett Ave. Coffee Houses were held in the cellar also. (Those were originally held at Hokason’s house on Daggett Ave.) There are three floors of office space square footage and parking. ADA compliance would require a ramp with less incline than the present one, though I do not remember if there is an elevator, which we do have in the present Town Hall. The building is adjacent to Veterans Memorial Park, so the Town’s employees would be able to enjoy Beach Road Weekend. And here is a question for Adam Troy Epstein: Is there a way, since your festival is held in Veterans Memorial Park, that you could extend comps to Veterans?
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