While I would love to see the Academy Street school turned into a Quincy Market-style space, I’m worried by the brief descriptions of the developers’ proposals to date. They appear to need to cover most of the land as well as the building, and contain a substantial residential element. If this is true, it may not be worth pursuing, as residential will not be in the town’s and the businesses downtown’s best interests. They would obviously be quite expensive, and probably cater to weekenders or summer residents, neither of which contribute to the fabric of a vital community.

My second choice would be to see it turned back into a school, of all things. If the estimate of $9 million to recondition it is correct, this is substantially lower than the $35 million asked for for the Ryerson or Jeffrey schools. There would probably be enough money available for a proper performing arts space, something this town lacks, yet all the surrounding towns seem to have no problem providing. This alone would bring plenty of nightlife to town and diners to local restaurants. It would also bring life back to the downtown area, with families taking advantage of the location, potentially, for recreation and shopping.

It’s just a thought, but if the developer’s proposals seem less than ideal, we shouldn’t lose the building just because a group of selectmen decided it was a good idea. A short-term financial gain is irrelevant when compared to the long-term loss of a multi-use building. The savings in school renovation alone make it viable. If the town wants to attract more families, high-priced condos is not a good fit.

Charlie Shafer

Madison