BRISTOL — Opposition is growing to a proposal on the Bristol Town Warrant to purchase and tear down the Bristol Baptist Church parsonage overlooking Central Square. Amidst general support for preserving historic buildings, the article calls for demolishing the parsonage to provide for expanded downtown parking.
The Baptist Church has been urging the town to purchase its parsonage for a number of years, according to Town Manager Christine Goodwin.
“The church came to us to offer the property to us first,” Goodwin said, explaining that the building has little remaining historic value and that exiting the parking lot is dangerous because of poor visibility around the corner from Central Square to Summer Street. “The [select] board feels it would open up the square and add to the square.”
Although the parsonage is listed on the inventory of buildings located in Bristol’s historic district, Goodwin said the building is not on the registry of historic buildings, and that few of the original characteristics remain after a number of renovations have been made through the years.
“One of the members of the church did say there was very little left of that historic structure [and agreed] it was a safety issue as well, when you come out of the parking lot,” Goodwin said.
The $87,528 warrant article would cover the cost of acquiring the land, demolishing the parsonage, landscaping, and repairing the parking lot to allow for the expansion of downtown parking options.
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