Dorchester 02 reviews offsite property inventory and options to sell, donate or retain

Dorchester 02 Facilities staff reviewed six noninstructional properties and proposed courses of action — sell at fair market value, donate to a neighboring nonprofit, or retain for district use — telling the committee they would bring appraisals and deed history back for board consideration.

Dr. Robbins reviewed the inventory: a flooded facility commonly referred to in the discussion as Gavans (a former technology center and the planned pilot childcare site), three residential houses used as district offices (including addresses on Joyce Lane and 801 McKissick Way), and the former Rawlings Middle School athletic fields on Gomes Street.

Staff told the committee that Gavans has flooded twice, required over $1 million of repairs after an earlier flood, and sits on a septic and well system that raises building-code and public-health testing challenges. Dr. Robbins said the district had to remove interior drywall, doors were warped, and occasional bottled water use was required because the well does not support required flows. He said the site’s Zestimate range is about $259,000 to $500,000 but acknowledged uncertainty and recommended a broker appraisal.

On disposition options, Dr. Robbins said the district could sell Gavans for fair market value or consider donating the parcel to the adjacent Canaan United Methodist Church; he said he had met with the church’s minister. Committee members asked whether state approvals would be required. A staff member explained that if a property was acquired after 1952 using any state funds, disposal requires State Board of Education approval; staff said the Gavans parcel appears to have been acquired by donation well before 1952 and therefore likely can be disposed of without that state approval process.

Staff estimated other residential properties at varying values: one at about $650,000 (staff later said that may be an overestimate), another at roughly $400,000, a third near $350,000, and the former Rawlings athletic fields at about $50,000–$75,000. The former Rawlings site (two acres) was described as convenient to the Berlin G Parkway and potentially suitable for storage, a transportation hub, or other district support facilities; staff said the 2-acre parcel could also accommodate a pre-engineered steel building.

Committee members asked for specific next steps: staff agreed to obtain deeds and deed histories, confirm whether state funds were used on each parcel, solicit a commercial broker appraisal or appraisal, and return with more precise valuations before the board decides whether to list, sell, donate or retain any parcel. No formal action or vote occurred.

Ending: Staff will check deed histories, commission appraisals, and report back; board members emphasized reinvesting any sale proceeds into capital improvements.