Manchester Directors to consider $1.75M Tong Building purchase

Feb. 4—MANCHESTER — The Board of Directors will decide Tuesday night whether or not to purchase 942-974 Main St., otherwise known as the Tong Building, for $1.75 million.

Owing to its colloquial name, the parents of Attorney General William Tong own the downtown property, under the company WJSJM LLC.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: The Board of Directors will vote next week on a proposed $1.75 million purchase of the building at 942 Main St., also known as the Tong building.

WHEN: Feb. 7, 7 p.m.

WHERE: Lincoln Center, 494 Main St.

According to town assessor documents, the 19,600 square-foot building and 0.79-acre lot were assessed at $513,200 under the 2021 revelation, with a market value appraisal of $733,200. The structure was built in 1940, and the town estimated replacement costs of $1.92 million.

The building features a number of retail storefronts with a recent history of vacancy, though some of its units now have active tenants. During the political campaign season last year, one of the larger units was leased out to local Democrats and used as a campaign headquarters.

In November 2022, the Board of Directors tabled a previous proposal to purchase the property for up to $1.75 million. In December 2022, the Board voted 7-2 to authorize negotiations with the owners, though with reservations.

Some directors expressed frustration with the process of the pending purchase, in part due to lacking a specified plan for the property.

Director Dennis Schain said in December that the town would gather bids from private developers once 942 Main St. is purchased.

A number of residents spoke against the purchase at the December 2022 meeting, voicing concerns with the poor state of the building and potentially purchasing a property for twice its assessed value.

Directors have proposed a number of potential uses for the property including retail, residential, and mixed-use, though there is no definite plan for it, if purchased.

Some have said that development at 942 Main St. could tie in with the new library being planned for across the street at 1041 Main St. — a massive development project approved by voters in a November 2022 referendum.

The referendum authorized the town to borrow up to $39 million for construction of the new Manchester Public Library at the current site of a Webster Bank branch, as well as make repairs for reuse of the Mary Cheney Library at 586 Main St.

A representative for Webster Bank said in December 2022 that the bank is working closely with the town to ensure there's a continued presence in the downtown area for its clients.

Proponents of the new library have said the project would drive economic activity in the area by serving as an attraction to downtown Manchester.

In other business on Tuesday, the Board of Directors will also vote to appoint members to the Library Building Committee.

In January, directors voted unanimously to establish the committee, to be charged with planning and overseeing construction of the new library.

The group will develop preliminary plans for the project, engage with the public, and make periodic progress reports to the Board of Directors, ultimately presenting "appropriate sketches, schematics, and detailed cost estimates of the project and its components" for the Director's approval.

If approved Tuesday, the former chairman of the 21st Century Library Task Force will likely be appointed to the committee, alongside three members each from the Board of Directors, Building Committee, Library Advisory Board, and the general Manchester community.

Joseph covers Manchester and Bolton for the Journal Inquirer.