By Michael J. DeCicco
DIGHTON — A household created in 1790 that city historians desired preserved will soon be demolished.
The winning bidder in the auction to obtain the Captain James Briggs Property at 949 Somerset Ave. has altered his brain about pursuing the town’s intention in just the ask for for proposals that the structure be moved to a different house.
As a end result, town officials will have to demolish a historic residence they experienced hoped would only be relocated somewhat than ruined.
Making commissioner James Aguiar described to the selectmen on Dec. 2 that the bidder has decided to abandon programs to repurpose the making “after carefully figuring prices and logistics.”
Aguiar said he will do the job with the Highway Division to prepare the demolition. But initial he will get rid of as many crucial products as doable from the historic residence.
“I am really dissatisfied,” Selectman Kenneth Pacheco mentioned immediately after getting the lone board member to vote from approving the demolition strategy following Aguiar’s presentation.

“As trustee of the Dighton Historic Culture,” he explained, “I have an curiosity in shielding aged houses in town. I am opposed to tearing it down like this on principle.”
The dwelling, which was built in 1790 by Dighton sea captain James Briggs, abuts city hall, and the two the property and the land it sits on are owned by the city. The Dighton Historic Commission experienced voted final yr that the Briggs Household be “ideally preserved,” and it aggressively searched for anybody to transfer the home to a diverse place.
The March 2019 Town Assembly accredited acquiring the residence but voted from renovating the house by itself mainly because of the expensive repairs needed to make it reusable. The town past yr rejected shelling out $60,000 to substitute the roof and renovate the inside.
Selectmen Chairman Brett Zografos stated the auction sale was in essence a deal offer with the requirement that the residence be moved. The city now receives to preserve the non-refundable bid supply, he mentioned.
But, now that the bidder has backed out, the town have to adhere to via on demolishing the creating to make area for programs for that parcel of land that involve a neighborhood backyard garden.
The demolition, he predicted, will materialize “as soon as feasible.”
“The local community back garden desired to break ground just before the winter. We did want to see it moved. It is unhappy to see we’re not likely to moving that dwelling,” Zografos said.
“We created an monumental work. We’re all unhappy that it didn’t perform out.”
Zografos described renovation programs for the Briggs House stalled mainly because “there was no consensus on what it could be made use of for. No a person experienced a great sound strategy for its reuse.”
More Stories
Two Way Radios Used and the Construction Trade
Top 7 Design Ideas to Enhance Your Interior
How to Market Your Commercial Real Estate Loan Business