For the first time since its adoption, a property owner has applied for a tax relief program for a downtown building in Greenville.
The building, on 66 Main St., is currently vacant and has been for some years, after once being condemned.
The building, also known as the Merrill C. Dodge House, was recognized as one of the 2025 Seven to Save properties in the state. It is a classic example of the Gothic Carpenter style and was built in 1850.
The owner of the property has filed for the town’s 79-E tax exemption program. The program allows owners of downtown properties to “freeze” the property’s tax value if they are planning to undertake a substantial rehabilitation or replacement. The rehabilitation must be at least $75,000 or 15% of the structure’s assessed valuation, whichever is less. The assessment can be frozen for up to five years under Greenville’s code, with potential extensions if it meets other factors, such as new housing units, affordable units, or if the structure is historically important.
According to the application, the planned renovations would cost about $369,000 and would include structural repairs and upgrades to the heating and cooling system and a three-apartment layout.
The current assessment of the property is $121,900, which includes $41,400 for the building, $76,400 for the land, and $4,100 for property features.
As part of their Seven to Save application, the owners have indicated one of the potential uses for the property after completion is as supportive housing for those transitioning out of foster care.
During a public hearing on the application on Wednesday, the Select Board reviewed whether the property met the requirements for the relief. The board found it was located downtown and that the proposed renovations met the “substantial” threshold.
The board must determine the proposal within 45 days of the application. As the owner or representative for the property was not present at the hearing, the board decided to continue the hearing to allow him an additional chance to attend and answer questions about the timeline for renovation and plans for the building once renovations are complete.
The board continued the hearing until June 17 at 6 p.m.
Other public hearings
During Wednesday’s meeting, the board also held two other public hearings. The first was on the sewer rate for the Greenville Estates. The Estates have a separate rate from the rest of the town, based on a contract signed with the town in 1996.
The board agreed to set the rate for Greenville Estates at $18.10 per 1,000 gallons. This compares to the previous year’s rate of $15.83.
The rate for the rest of the town is currently $34 per 1,000 gallons.
The board also held a hearing on a new proposed town ordinance related to plowing or clearing snow into roadways. The proposed ordinance would create fines for those who deposit snow within roads or rights of way of $100 for a first offense and $500 for subsequent offenses.
The rule specifically prohibited plowing “snow across any and all town roads, including Class 5 or 6, or to deposit snow within the traveled portion, town right-of-way of town roads.”
Resident Marshall Buttrick spoke against the wording of that section of the ordinance, saying that the place he deposits snow is across the street from his driveway and would be in violation of the ordinance, as he has to plow it across the road. He said the same is true of several of his neighbors. He said the intent of the ordinance appears to be to prevent leaving snow in the roadway, but it doesn’t account for situations like his.
Charles Buttrick agreed with the objection and said that the wording also seemed to conflict with the specifics of the cited RSAs in the ordinance. The board agreed to withdraw the ordinance for further review and repost the public hearing when a new draft was completed.