Dutton Twins for Town Hall: just the facts

To the Editor:
Setting the Record Straight-The Economics of the Dutton Twins as the Future Hillsborough Town Hall
A number of months ago I offered to the town of Hillsborough the historic Dutton Twins for consideration as a Town Hall. Several townspeople were enthusiastic and supported the idea with emails, editorials and offers to help. Unfortunately, our elected and non-elected leaders of the town dismissed the offer. Only one selectman visited the site, Paul Haley. Selectman Bob Buker and Joe Collins, as well as Harvey Chandler, Chair of the Building Committee, have never visited the site and its restored interior. Additionally, they have quoted costs concerning the acquisition of the property and its operating expenses without any basis of fact or data to do so. Other options have been vetted, with conceptual drawings, cost estimating, and architect opinions—at town expense. These options included the Community Building, the MCT building, the Dump Road new construction, and the current medical building option—but not the Dutton Twins.
So in short summary here are the facts for the townspeople:
1. The acquisition cost is $450,000, a substantial discount from both the market and assessed value.
2. The cost for re-configuring the West Wing of the Dutton Mansion for office space would be between $50,000 and $75,000. In fact it could be moved into almost immediately with an updated communications package.
3. The cost for refurbishing the East Wing would be about $45 a square foot used or approximately $225,000 for 5000 square feet of usage.
4. The center barn and ells would need to be fundamentally built for use—for files, for a meeting hall, for offices, etc. Depending on use, a $400,000 to $575,000 estimate would be reasonable.
5. The cottage, like the West Wing has been fully restored and can be used as office space immediately.
6. The total cost would be $1,150,000 to $1,325,000 depending on how the barn was utilized. Additionally, the barn and East Wing could be done in stages over a number of years-which means that a Town Hall could operate today with a modest investment.
7. Operating cost-maintenance and heating-are not excessive. The Dutton twins have been insulated, space heating has never exceeded $6000 a year for any of the twin structures. Building Maintenance costs have never exceeded $10,000 for the whole structure at any given year. After refurbishment-operating costs would be much less.
8. There are additional advantages of the Dutton property-expansive land for parking (20 spaces exist now); the river view will provide a park-like setting for the town; a footbridge could connect with the town property on the other side of the river.
In summary, these numbers suggest that the Dutton Twins should be seriously evaluated like the other options. If the total economics are not as attractive as another option---fine,but let the numbers form that conclusion---not general impression. I am asking our town leadership to be fact-based, to stop leaping to conclusions, to make informed decisions on the economics. If the leadership will not, there may be more than one option for petition at the next emergency town meeting.
Our smallest towns in New Hampshire have restored their historic buildings as Town Halls. Even our neighbor community, Deering, has restored its historic structure. Unfortunately, what we have today is the prospect of being housed in a double-wide trailer. For many in the state, that statement merely confirms their impression of Hillsborough. Our town “brand” deserves better. Our town citizens deserve better. Imagine a restored Town Hall on a hill, with a “river running through it”, overlooking park lands, with history preserved.
Mike Reopel
Owner, Dutton Twins