Groton — The city is in negotiations with a prospective buyer of the Mother Bailey House, the 18th century colonial house on the corner of Broad and Thames streets that the city began seeking proposals for last year.  

City of Groton Mayor Keith Hedrick said the attorneys are finalizing the purchase and sale agreement, which then will go before the city's Real Estate Committee. His goal is to bring it to the Feb. 24 Committee of the Whole meeting for the City Council to discuss. 

"They are extremely energetic and enthusiastic over the opportunity to restore this house and to give back to the City of Groton," Hedrick said of the buyer. "They are invested in this project and in the City of Groton in general."

The city has not officially released details of the plan to develop the property or the name of the buyer because the agreement remains under review, Hedrick said.

Meanwhile, a city resident had filed a blight complaint last month over the condition of the house. The city issued a response that the new owners will address the issues. 

Last year, the City Council had declared the Mother Bailey House property and the adjoining parcel on Broad Street as "surplus property" and decided to issue a request for proposals. Hedrick said at the time that the city had owned the house for years, yet there was no will among residents to spend any more money on it for needed repairs. In 2016, residents had rejected a bonding proposal that included funding improvements to the house.

The city received two responses to the first request for proposals issued in March 2019, but they did not meet the requirements of the request, according to city officials. The city issued a second request for proposals on June 26, and received three responses.

The Real Estate Committee conducted interviews on Aug. 30, and negotiations began soon after, City Planner Dennis Goderre said. When the committee finds the terms of a negotiated purchase and sale agreement acceptable, it will recommend it to the City Council for discussion and then a vote, if it agrees with the terms.

The building will be restored as part of the development plan. Building Official Carlton Smith said the respondent was very interested in keeping the historical values of the house as they currently are.

Hedrick said the new owners also expressed an interest in working with the Friends of the Mother Bailey House. Susan Archer, president of the Friends group, said there will be space to display artifacts to preserve Mother Bailey's legacy and the history of the house.

"As long as the sale goes through, this is a big win for the community and multiple groups who are focused on preserving history," Archer said.

In response to the original request for proposals, The Friends of the Mother Bailey House had submitted a proposal to create a museum, but it was not accepted as it did not meet some of the criteria in the request for proposals, Archer said.

Blight complaint

City resident Michael Boucher on Jan. 24 filed a blight complaint about the Mother Bailey House, citing that the "condition of building appears unsafe" and "not adequately maintained." He said the peeling and chipping paint exceeds 33% of the exterior and "many gaps and holes may attract and harbor insects, rodents and birds." He claimed the house's condition "contributes to a decline in property values on proximate properties."

Boucher said by email that his feelings were: "Sell it, give it away or knock it down but continuing to let the house rot away wasn’t doing anyone any good."

After inspecting the property, city Blight Enforcement Officer Glenn Frishman wrote in a Jan. 29 report, "There was evidence of minimal rot in some of the treads in the wooden steps leading up to the house from the street. There were a number of chinks (loose or missing mortar) in the field stones making up the retaining wall and foundation. Additionally, the Grecian Ionic columns display some rot at the base. The front porch is being buttressed by weather treated 4x4s. Paint is chipping on the house but does not equal 33% of the total surface area of the structure."

Smith said he inspected the building and found the structure is as good as when the city finished a re-stabilization of the house several years ago.

Groton City police Chief Michael Spellman, who also inspected the property, wrote in a Jan. 29 letter to Hedrick that the city's blight program, with a part-time blight officer and limited court resources, typically seeks "voluntary compliance whenever possible."

"The future owner is clearly indicating that they are committed to refurbishing this property," he wrote. "Allowing the new owner to take steps towards compliance and to commence a remediation strategy is an effective step to right the buildings existing state."

But Boucher questioned how that approach would affect other blighted properties on Thames Street and Five Corners, which the city has targeted for economic development.

"If the Bailey House is not blight what is?" he asked. "How is there any hope of turning these areas around?"

Spellman said in the letter that he concurs with the blight officer that the "property has significant historical value, and will no doubt be a key stakeholder in economic development and revitalization in this neighborhood." He said the city would not hold up the sale and would work with the future owner to address issues.

k.drelich@theday.com