Walkabout Opens Up Former Bible College Campus to Opportunity

Opportunity was the keyword Wednesday morning at the former Bible college campus on Primrose Hill off of Middle Highway.

More than two dozen environmental and demolition contractors walked the former college campus along with about 10 Barrington officials.

The contractors were looking at the 39.5-acre site as an opportunity to land a new contract. The town officials were looking at the property as an opportunity for a new middle school; residential units, including affordable housing; professional office space, you name it, with Barrington in control of the property’s destiny.

The walkabout opened up most of the former college buildings, including the historic Belton Court “castle,” to close scrutiny.

What will it cost to demolish a building? What will it cost to renovate it? What will it cost to remove any asbestos or underground tanks that could pose environmental hazards? These types of questions need answers that the walkabout helped to answer. 

Town Manager Peter DeAngelis and Town Planner Phil Hervey led the invasion of the vacant campus along with a representative of the real estate company handling the sale.

The walking tour also drew Fire Chief Gerald Bessette; Department of Public Works Director Alan Corvi; School Department Facilities Director Skip Learned, Building Official Robert Speaker, Finance Director Dean Huff and two Town Councilors: President June Speakman and Cynthia Coyne.

The two buildings that generated the most interest and excitement among town officials were the gymnasium/chapel building and Belton Court, also known as the Gibson Memorial Building. 

The gym includes space for at least two full basketball courts, and appears to be in a condition that makes it more than salvageable. 

Belton Court includes more than 50,000 square feet of space, according to the realtor, in a current mix of living space and office configurations. Although it needs a new roof and the plaster walls are being damaged by moisture in many spots, the building holds significant possibilities for reuse with the right amount of investment and imagination. 

Reusing the entire 39.5 acres is actually addressed already in Barrington’s Comprehensive Community Plan, said Hervey.

The “comp plan” sees the property as a possible new “Village” or “Mixed-Use Village” zone with a variety of residential units, including affordable housing, and open space. Click on this for the report: http://72.46.3.26/complan6/Appendix-III-DeveloperGuidance-VillageZoning.pdf.