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Clifton council approves donor‑funded assessment to explore Pink House rehabilitation
Summary
Council unanimously approved allowing donors Kathy and Brant Baber to fund a professional assessment of the Pink House to determine costs for non‑commercial town use; the Belle Jar tenant is vacating and the Council discussed communications and tenant prorated rent requests.
At its March 4 meeting the Clifton Town Council approved a motion to permit Kathy and Brant Baber to hire, at their expense, a professional to assess rehabilitation options for the Pink House property and the Barker (back) building.
Councilmember Steve Effros summarized several options examined in a memo: full rehabilitation as a rental, transfer to the CBA, removal of the front building with conversion of the Barker Building for town use, and pursuing grant‑funded rehabilitation for town, non‑commercial use. Citizen Brant Baber told the Council the proposed phase‑1 assessment would categorize needed work into "must be done," "should be done," and "could be done," and provide cost estimates.
Council approved the Babers’ request to proceed with a donor‑funded professional assessment, with the motion seconded by CM Mary Hess and approved by poll, 6‑0. Brant Baber said donors anticipate providing a written report and then returning to the Council for funding decisions; he estimated potential total funding could be "on the order of $300,000–$500,000," characterizing that as an estimate.
Councilmembers discussed tenant coordination: the Belle Jar café sent a notice that the lease was not renewed and the tenant requested the first week of April be prorated to allow moving; Councilmembers asked the Administrator and CM Davis to manage communications and respect the tenant’s move‑out timing.
The motion approved at the meeting authorizes the Babers to contract for and deliver a professional assessment at their expense; no Town funds were approved for construction at this stage. The assessment is intended to inform any future Council decisions.
