Aldermen clash over language preserving facade of Hallsville School included in RFP
Mar. 7—Manchester aldermen voted 14-0 this week to put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the former Hallsville School, but not before fireworks erupted between some on the board over whether to include restrictions.
Hallsville School was an elementary school that served the neighborhood from its construction in 1891 to its closing in June 2021. Aldermen hit the reset button on discussions about the future of the former school last year after plans to convert the vacant building into a mixed-use community center were scrapped. A proposal from Southern New Hampshire Services and Granite State Children's Alliance was withdrawn because of inadequate funding.
The structure has sat vacant for three years.
"The frustration in this city with this property and this board, with government, is at a boil right now," Alderman Joe Kelly Levasseur told fellow aldermen Tuesday. "I don't believe you people are really serious about getting anything done in this city."
Alderman Dan Goonan, who attended Hallsville growing up, was among a chorus of voices on the board that drew the ire of Levasseur for requesting that language preserving the building's facade be included in the RFP.
"I don't want to get pissed here, but this is ridiculous," Goonan said. "Look, all I want is to preserve the facade of the building. I don't want the building razed, I don't think anyone else wants the building razed, so what's the big deal. I don't need a stare down, I don't need any swearing over there or eye rolls.
"I see you're upset at me. Please don't tell me to shut up. Enough, okay tough guy? Enough."
Over the summer, the Aldermanic Committee on Lands and Buildings requested the Parks and Recreation Department provide information on the viability and associated costs of reusing Hallsville School as a community center, with space potentially occupied by Parks and Rec, the city's Office of Youth Services and community partners.
Mark Gomez, the city's chief of Parks, Recreation and Cemetery, was given $5,000 to pay for the services of a licensed professional architect, Fred Matuszewski of Matuszewski Architects in Bedford.
Matuszewski estimates the plan would require nearly $5 million in upgrades and $100,000 in annual maintenance costs.
Last month, members of the Aldermanic Committee on Lands and Buildings voted 3-2 to support sending a Request for Proposals out once again for the vacant site.
"It has been three years," Alderman Ed Sapienza said. "Every time it rains the school deteriorates a little bit more. The time has come to just put this thing forward, get it out there and let's get some bids on it. No restrictions and then let's take it from there."
Board members ultimately voted to issue an RFP with language preserving the school's facade.
Levasseur supported the motion, but wasn't happy.
"We're just delaying, delaying, delaying and not getting anything done with this property by adding restrictions," he said. "We're not getting honest bids. You wonder why people get sick and tired of government — it's because you can't even get out of your own way."
