Board of Selectmen Decide to Hold Off on Putting Land Up for Bid

The Burlington Board of Selectmen discussed the option of selling a piece of land owned by the town during the Sept. 12 meeting, but opted to wait for market conditions to change in an attempt to maximize profit.

The 35,240 square-foot property under consideration is located at 306 Middlesex Turnpike. Town Treasurer and Collector Brian Curtin, who would handle any sale of the property, explained that the town came by the parcel after the previous owner passed away and the 15 heirs who took possession failed to pay property taxes. Curtin said the heirs defaulted on the taxes in 1975 but it took the town over 20 years to go through the land court to obtain ownership.

“The town now owns the property and we have the right to retain or sell,” Curtin told the board.

Curtin told the board that the land is valued at $114,000 and that the outstanding tax burden is roughly $67,000, or over $100,000 when interest is factored into the equation.

Curtin told the board that if the property were sold at or near the current market price, the town would receive roughly $3,500 annually in property taxes and would no longer be responsible for a piece of land that the town had no plan on using.

Selectman Ralph Patuto, however, suggested the board hold off on selling the land at this time. He explained the parcel on Middlesex Turnpike may become more valuable if the town waits to sell. Alluding to rumors of a , located near this parcel, he explained that if the town holds onto the property, investors might be interested in purchasing it as a entrance for future projects.

“There are talks and speculation of a building going up there,” Patuto said. “Being that as it may, it’s been 20 years. In my opinion, we should sit on property – there is no hurry to sell it now, we should see if something gets developed up there which would raise it’s value and town would get a better return."

Selectman Daniel Grattan did not disagree with Patuto’s idea, but said he would prefer if there was a time limit on how long the town would hold off on selling the land.

“I don’t want to sell it for too little, but I also don’t want to hold on to it forever” he said. “I don’t want the town to be in the real estate speculation business.”

In the end the board voted to wait a year before putting the property out to bid. If an interested buyers comes forward in the meantime, the board will consider any offers of purchase on an individual basis.