06/23/2026
https://www.iberkshires.com/story/83025/Williamstown-Accepts-Williams-2M-Bid-for-59-Water-St..html?fbclid=IwY2xjawSnsNlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFyRndjZnVWYTduOUtXb3Vac3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHqsqBQmwA3sUNfjy3W5Gybjs7hjJ2308fvASgeQwxUZMt_b6Ex4tChEIEapd_aem__yX8bIqGSFlLvJwfOfRSvw
HIGHLIGHTS:
"The Select Board on Monday voted 4-1 to accept a revised offer from Williams College to purchase the former town garage site at four times the original upfront offer.
The college's original response to the town's request for proposals for 59 Water St. proposed that the school acquire the vacant lot for an upfront purchase price of $500,000 plus 10 years of $50,000 contributions to the Mount Greylock Regional School District.
On Monday night, Williams' director of communications presented a revised offer: the original $500,000 purchase price plus an additional $1.5 million contribution to the town, paid in a lump sum at the time of closing."
"After consideration and listening to the good conversation at the last Select Board meeting, we've decided to revise our offer, so we'll make a one-time payment of $1.5 million to the town at closing," Puc said. "This is in place of the $50,000 payment to the local schools."
"One member of the board, Shana Dixon, said the college's proposal contained too many what-ifs, and she still believed the former town garage site might be put to better use."
"Before voting, two board members did express desires that the town could extract even more favorable terms from the college.
After Puc mentioned in her presentation that some of the planned 170 parking spaces at a new college Facilities building could be set aside for public use, benefiting Water Street merchants, Beck said he would prefer to see that commitment in writing.
In the end, no such amendment to the proposal was offered, and Menicocci was not told to wait until one was received before closing on the deal.
Nate Budington asked if the deal to convey the 59 Water St. lot could be tied to a promise from the college to open 26 Water St., the 9,500 square foot Grundy's Garage building, to commercial development.
Menicocci indicated that such a proposal outside the scope of the original RFP would be difficult at this stage."
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday voted 4-1 to accept a revised offer from Williams College to purchase the former town garage site at four times the original upfront...
