Commissioners direct staff to solicit short proposals for downtown uses as talent‑center offers arrive; town to study reuse of old town hall

Commissioners discussed multiple downtown‑property opportunities and asked staff to test the market with a short, targeted solicitation while the town completes the new town hall construction.

Talent‑center proposals: staff reported the town received two proposals in response to a recent solicitation for the small commercial “Talent Center” parcel in Towne Center. One proposal (described by staff as a primarily commercial scheme) offered restaurants, a food hall and banquet or assembly space; the other proposal described a mixed commercial/residential project with ground‑floor retail and upper‑floor residences. Staff said the solicitation did not explicitly include a town‑funded parking deck and that if the board wants physical parking‑deck support offered as part of proposals, staff should reissue the solicitation to make that potential included item clear to all respondents.

Board guidance: after discussion commissioners asked staff to pursue a short, time‑bounded RFP process to test private interest in creative commercial or mixed‑use concepts for the parcel, but they did not direct immediate commitment to public financing for a parking structure. Several commissioners said they wanted retail and restaurants that will activate downtown; others emphasized that additional residents downtown make more retail viable and that parking tradeoffs would need a careful plan if a deck were required.

Reuse of existing town hall: with the new town hall project advancing, staff presented conceptual ideas for converting the current town hall into community or commercial uses. Management summarized work to date and said up to about $2 million in interior‑upfit funds could be available (a mixture of upfit dollars in the new town hall budget plus a potential grant), subject to board direction. Commissioners were split: some favored an RFP to seek a private occupant or developer, while others preferred keeping a public community/event space; staff said the town could pursue an economic‑development disposal process or a conventional property disposal method depending on the chosen use.

Habitat for Humanity: the board briefly discussed a separate staff action to convey two small town‑owned lots to Habitat for Humanity for development if Habitat’s due diligence confirms the sites are buildable; staff clarified the town is not paying Habitat for the lots — the land transfer is intended to support development of two for‑sale homes that Habitat would build and then sell to eligible buyers under Habitat’s rules.

Next steps: staff will prepare a short RFP/solicitation and a timeline for commissioners’ review, outline possible parking scenarios and the budget implications of a town‑funded deck, and bring back a recommended disposition path and draft solicitation for the old town hall. The Board asked staff to return with specific contractual or disposal steps before any sale or long‑term lease.