The Clinton Chamber of Commerce is holding a member event with the potential developers of the Pierson Property on Tuesday, May 21, at 360 Federal Credit Union, located at 159 East Main Street, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. However, organizers caution that the event is not meant as an update on the property.

The event is organized by the Clinton Chamber of Commerce and is free for chamber members but $15 for non-members. Pre-registration is required and is available on the chamber website.

A press release for the event states that representatives from the potential developers of the Pierson, HOPE Partnership Inc. and Xenolith Partners LLC, will give a presentation as well as conduct a question and answer session for those in attendance. Refreshments will also be provided.

However, Clinton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Paul Orsini is cautioning people who are seeking a scoop on what’s happening at the Pierson property that the event is not meant as a development update.

Orsini said the event is really meant for the potential developers, who have worked on other notable projects along the shoreline, to introduce themselves to the Clinton business community.

“It’s not really going to be this big update on what’s going on. It’s a way for them to meet our members,” Orsini said

While the May 21 event won’t provide any answers, that doesn’t mean people aren’t curious about the next steps in the Pierson redevelopment process.

Clinton residents had their interest piqued in December 2023 when the Town Council unanimously voted to recommend the former Pierson School property be sold to the two potential developers for $500,000.

The potential developers stated at that time that they were proposing to turn the former school into affordable housing aimed toward senior citizens and space for senior programming needs.

Since the potential sale was announced the town has taken several steps to move the process along, though more work needs to be done.

Last month, Interim Town Manager Richard Brown said that an agreement had been signed to allow the potential developers to access the property to conduct their due diligence on the property ahead of creating a sales agreement. That work is ongoing.

Once a purchase and sales agreement is created it will need to be vetted by the town’s attorney before both parties sign it.

Next, a potential sale would need to be approved by citizens at a town meeting. Town officials told the Harbor News the town expects the town meeting to be scheduled sometime this year.

Though the proposed plan calls for the building to be sold, the façade of the building, the lawn, the statues, and the gazebo on the property will be preserved for town use.