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Town reviews restoration options for deteriorated Metalwood barns; bids far exceed budget
Summary
One bid to restore two historic Metalwood sheds came in at roughly $2.3 million; town staff and partners are exploring lower-cost options, donation funding and salvaging historic sheathing for exhibits.
Town staff briefed the Board of Selectmen on the condition and funding options for the historic Metalwood (tobacco) barns on town property, reporting that restoration bids have significantly exceeded the budget allocated in the capital program.
Staff said the first round of bids produced a single contractor price of about $2.3 million to restore both sheds to the level required for public interior access. An alternate bid to demolish one shed and restore the other still exceeded $1 million. Town staff and partnering nonprofit organizations such as The Preservation League or The Preservation Trust for Local (TPL — as referenced in packet) have discussed redirecting roughly $305,000 originally allocated for an exhibit toward a more limited stabilization plan.
The town’s structural review found the barns’ condition has deteriorated to the point that traditional reroofing and incremental repairs are not feasible; safety concerns and the age of structural timbers increase contractor risk and cost. Staff said value-engineering options include stabilizing rather than fully restoring a single shed (treating it as an agricultural structure with restricted interior access) or salvaging historic boards and signatures for exhibit display off-site.
Selectmen asked staff to seek formal commitments from partner organizations and grant sources before proceeding with design revisions; staff said the town would request a formal pledge if donors can redirect funds to cover the cost of further design and construction. The board did not approve new town funds and asked staff to pursue grant options, potential private donations, and to provide more detailed cost breakdowns — including whether restoration requirements attached to earlier grant-match commitments would prevent rebuilding rather than restoring.
No final decision was made; staff will return with a recommendation and documentation of potential fund sources, grant opportunities and whether historic preservation grants or National Park Service programs might apply to the project.
