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Bristol to run title search and consider condemnation to clear Main Street parcel for redevelopment; staff propose temporary pop‑ups
Summary
Counsel reported a likely gap in title for a narrow riverbank parcel adjacent to Main Street; the council authorized a title search and discussed eminent domain as a last resort. Staff proposed short‑term pop‑up retail food or farmers‑market uses for a vacant building while title issues and an RFP are finalized.
Legal counsel Alex Bowman told the council that preliminary title work suggests a possible "gap" in the legal description for a narrow strip of riverbank property north of the town’s existing parcels. That gap appears in early plats and tax records and may have left a small parcel without a clear chain of title.
Bowman recommended two immediate steps: (1) hire a title company to perform a focused title search and clarify ownership and legal descriptions for the strip and adjacent parcels (a modest, routine cost) and (2) if the search shows no clear owner or an unresolvable defect, the town should consider using the eminent domain (condemnation) process to clear title and deliver marketable title to a future developer. Bowman said that, in the likely scenarios, the town could publish the statutory notice, make an offer and, if necessary, proceed by condemnation; he noted the assessor currently lists a very low assessed value for the parcel.
Council directed counsel to hire a title company and begin the search. Bowman said the title work will clarify how complicated a condemnation would be and that, if no owner is found, the town could offer a nominal value by publication and pursue an uncontested path to clear title.
Separately, town staff (Jill) proposed interim uses for an adjacent vacant Main Street building while title and unified ownership are resolved: low‑barrier pop‑up retail (walk‑up window, quick food such as a local rice/roll vendor), a farmers market or weekend programming, limited seating and picnic tables on the riverfront, and short‑term nominal leases or license arrangements to generate foot traffic and demonstrate the site’s potential ahead of a formal RFP and redevelopment. Counsel and staff discussed whether the RDC or town should hold title during interim leasing and flagged insurance, ADA and lease‑statute considerations; the RDC was identified as a more flexible holding vehicle for that short term.
Next steps: counsel to order title search and report back with findings and a recommended path (negotiation vs condemnation); staff to finalize RFP timeline and pursue interim lease/license terms for pop‑up uses where legally permissible.
