Estimates differ on costs of study
The price tag to find out how much fixing or tearing down Watertown's Masonic Temple would cost will top $20,000, but it's not clear that economic development agencies are willing to spend the money.
During a Watertown Local Development Corp. meeting Tuesday morning, Chief Executive Officer Donald W. Rutherford said Crawford & Stearns, Syracuse, put the cost at $24,000, while Bernier, Carr and Associates, Watertown, estimated it to be $37,000.
The board president, Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham, said he doesn't want to see the public agencies move forward without invitation from the leaders of Watertown Masonic Lodge 49.
"We're kind of pushing ourselves into the process," he said.
Mary M. Corriveau, board member and city manager, pointed out that the corporation spent $700,000 on the Franklin Building. That was refunded by Neighbors of Watertown after construction loans closed.
"Any potential buyer is going to be coming to the three agencies and the city and wanting assistance," she said. "We can try to be proactive so we protect future dollars these agencies may be asked to forward to help."
The inequity in the prices may be narrowed by focusing the scope of the study.
"Bernier and Carr had a much more extensive scope," Mr. Rutherford said. "If we pare it down, it may be more in line with Crawford and Stearns."
On June 17, the corporation board authorized Mr. Rutherford to investigate the cost of a feasibility study that could be shared with potential developers and give the local economic development agencies insight into the building.
Officials from the Development Authority of the North Country and Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency had said they might be able to contribute a small amount for the study. But the quotes came in higher than the economic development officials had expected.
"We may, in fact, end up with the biggest piece of the cost," Mr. Rutherford said.
JCIDA CEO Donald C. Alexander said, "We were thinking we could support $2,500 to $3,000 each, but it will be a bit of a stretch going to what we're talking about now."
The temple, 242 Washington St., has had its price reduced from $499,000 in November 2003 to $125,000 recently. Originally, Masonic leaders cited declining membership and the cost of maintaining the 36,000-square-foot structure, which includes a theater, a commercial kitchen and a gymnasium, as reasons for putting it on the market.
Through their real estate agent, the Masons have said they're not willing to contribute to the study, but would allow the corporation to pursue one.
Mr. Graham voiced discomfort with pursuing the study.
"We're still talking about a privately owned building marketed by a private real estate agent," he said. "It would be a gift to any developer. And the building is not something we anticipate being in the chain of custody."
The city would be responsible for trying to sell or demolish the structure if the Masons stopped paying taxes on the property.
"It's a centerpiece of the downtown section and I'd hate like heck to see it continue to deteriorate and then have the city pay half a million dollars to demolish it," Mr. Alexander said.
Mr. Rutherford will try to set up a meeting with officials from the city, DANC and JCIDA to evaluate options.
"The problem is if nothing happens with it, the building ends up in city hands and creates a huge liability for the city," he said.
