MIDDLEBORO — Select Board members supported a road map of steps toward a final determination about the future of the vacant Peirce Building in Middleboro center.

The multi-stage process that was approved at the Monday, Dec. 19 Select Board meeting includes a call for proposals for a private/public partnership for the building’s use and hiring a real estate agent to assist with outreach to the private sector. 

In previous presentations about the building’s future, the issue has drawn strong emotions. Supporters say the building would fill an important need in the town for community space and others question the cost, which had previously been estimated at $5 million, and where this money would come from.

This new five-step plan drew on common denominators in these discussions, said Town Manager James McGrail, who developed the proposal in conjunction with his office staff. 

He said that “everyone seems to be in support of saving the building,’’ which dates back to 1808 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  “No one is saying, Tear it down.’’

He also noted community support for a private/public partnership “to shoulder the cost’’ of revitalizing the building, which has been vacant since 2018 when the police department moved to its current station on Wood Street. 

The first step of the five-step plan was taken Monday when the board approved the conceptual floor plan previously presented by the Pierce Building Reuse Committee, which has been tasked with exploring the future of the building.

This floor plan proposed a community hall in the building as well space for town offices and private businesses.

This plan will be included in the second step, which would issue a request for proposals for a private/public partnership for the site. Respondents would be asked to provide a price proposal and be allowed to submit alternatives to the developed floor plan.

The next step would involve hiring a real estate agent to assist with distributing the request for proposals and reaching out to state agencies and the private sector.

Proposals would then be evaluated by the Town Manager and the Office of Economic and Community Development and presented to the Select Board for approval.

The final step would develop a plan for re-use and project funding. Money could come from grants, public/private partnership agreements, town funds and private donations, according to the plan.

No time table was set for the project. 

McGrail said he hoped the new multi-stage plan would “get the board and our office heading in a direction we can all agree on.’’