Standing Room Only For Property Auction

Dozens of people filled a ballroom at the on Tuesday, July 26 for an auction which included four parcels of state-owned land along Route 9 and Oak Street in Westborough. 

Attendees included potential bidders, representatives from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’s Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM), two auction companies and general observers.

The Westborough parcels include structures which were formerly part of the Lyman School for Boys. Since they are part of the National Register of Historic Places, the parcels are subject to historic covenants.

Auctioneer Paul Zekos of The Zekos Group, which worked in a joint venture with auctioneers Sullivan & Sullivan, led the spirited hour-long auction.

Zekos explained that the sale was an “absolute auction” and that properties would sell to the highest bidder regardless of price. “This allows you to participate at a level you are comfortable with. It is a public, transparent process,” Zekos explained.

The first Westborough parcel up for sale was “Parcel G," a 4.7 acre site containing a former residence house and two-car garage that are currently in disrepair.

Bidding started at $100K and after more than a dozen spirited bids and a reminder from Zekos about the highly visible location, the winning bid came in at $362,500K. 

Winning bidder Chris Christopher of Southborough told Westborough Patch he didn’t have immediate plans and that he sees it as “a good investment and it's a great town to have property in.”  Christopher explained that he may go before the proper state and local boards to investigate taking down the building. Christopher co-owns Park Place, an active adult community in Westborough. 

Second up was “Parcel D," a 2.1 acre site at the signalized intersection of Oak and Milk Streets, which brought in a final bid of $200K after starting at $100K. 

Kevin Giblin, owner of Brendon Properties, was the winning bidder and told Westborough Patch, “I bought the parcel because it abuts my property and offers protection of the property.” Giblin said he does not have currently have specific plans for the parcel.

The third property up for sale was “Parcel C-2." This 7.8 acre site on Oak Street has several structures in disrepair, as well as sub-surface tunnels. 

After an opening bid of $100K followed by nearly two dozen competitive bids, Charles Faris, president and CEO of placed the winning bid of $350K, causing Zekos to quip, “That’s why they call it an auction.”   

Faris told Westborough Patch that Spectrum currently owns a string of properties along Oak Street. “We have no plans yet, it’s protection for the future.” 

Last up to bid was a combined lot of “Parcels B and J-1." This lot includes 6.3 acres in total and two brick buildings along Oak Street billed as “architectural treasures.” 

The combined parcels received a final bid of $145K after a handful of bids which began at $100K.

Khaja Shamasuddin of Natick, whose father-in-law is presently gaining approval for a 40B development at 169 East Main St., won the parcel. Shamasuddin told Westborough Patch, “I don’t yet know what I’ll do with it, maybe condominiums,” adding that he toured the properties and “the structure is in decent shape.” 

Zekos told Westborough Patch, “Proceeds exceeded $1.5 million for all properties combined, including Westborough, Norton, Lawrence and Springfield, also factoring in the 10% purchase fee.”

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