Copyright berkshireeagle
To the editor: A property owner is looking to sell a small parking lot and a rundown building to the Town of Lenox for $1 million, according to a recent Eagle article ("Lenox hosting public information sessions ahead of special town meeting on parking lot purchase," Oct. 28.). Even if that was a reasonable cost (it is questionable), the town will have to spend “significant money” to rehab or demo the structure. So, the price to taxpayers in the end will be well north of $1 million. At past town meetings, taxpayers were hit with significant property tax increases. The term “free cash” is misleading. It’s still our tax dollars reserved to fund town needs — perhaps to lower the tax rate, not to buy rundown property. The new Lenox Public Safety Complex on Housatonic Street and the Crystal Street sewer plant upgrade cost more than $70 million combined. Those are needed and are investments in our town — money well spent. Lenox doesn’t need to purchase a rundown building with significant rehab costs just to gain a small parking lot. Per recent Eagle articles, the proposed $1 million purchase on the Nov. 6 special town meeting warrant involves properties in the town’s historic district. While parking is a challenge at peak times, like any vacation destination, it’s not a crisis. I’d argue taxpayers already do enough to support our business district each year. If we’re afraid someone will do something with a property we don’t like, zoning and permitting are exactly the controls the town should use. For Lenox to buy a dilapidated house already targeted by the Historical Committee isn’t a prudent use of taxpayers’ “free cash,” nor should the town become a property developer. Lenox already owns a challenging historic property in the library building. We see the annual cost to taxpayers for that structure. Also remember the Lenox school system is working on a $30 million plan for a new building and renovation that will affect our taxes soon if approved. Let’s leave this commercial/historic property on the tax rolls. Have an investor purchase and rehab it — not Lenox taxpayers. Lenox voters, please turn out for the special town meeting on Nov. 6 and vote for fiscal control. There are too many unknowns to take ownership of this rundown building. Joseph Miller, Lenox
