Prospective buyers seek guided tour of historic 1272 Putnam Pike; council authorizes DPW to show property

Prospective buyers attended the Glocester Town Council meeting to propose rehabilitating town-owned property at 1272 Putnam Pike. The interested parties—who said one is a licensed contractor and the other a realtor—told councilors they would like a guided tour to assess structural needs, parcel subdivision and feasibility before submitting a purchase and renovation proposal.

Town staff noted an earlier assessment by Rhode Island Housing that characterized the building as in very poor condition and recommended demolition; councilors said that neither demolition nor a permanent decision is their immediate goal and that they are open to creative proposals that might preserve the structure if financially viable.

Council authorized the DPW director to arrange a supervised tour with the prospective buyers and to coordinate with the town’s historic‑district contacts. The council asked that any subsequent proposal include an assessment of lot size and anticipated costs so the council can evaluate restoration versus redevelopment options.

No sale was authorized at the meeting; the motion authorized only access for a supervised assessment and requested a follow-up proposal for review at a later meeting.