PLAINFIELD, Vt. (WCAX) – The new owner of the former Goddard College campus plans to meet with local officials and residents next week to outline their plans for the property.
Goddard, which announced in April that it was closing, signed a purchase and sales agreement last week with Upper Valley-based Execusuite LLC. Officials say it allows the college to meet its financial obligations, including payments to faculty and staff and settling debt to its creditors. But many questions remain about what the new owner intends to do with the property
“The town is very concerned about the sale and what’s going to happen. Are we gonna get those payments and so forth, so a lot of nervousness,” said Plainfield Town Clerk Bram Towbin.
After several potential buyers for the campus fell through, Plainfield leaders worry they won’t make ends meet. That’s because the town’s small wastewater system isn’t supported by taxpayers but runs on a building-by-building basis, and Goddard represents a huge portion of it.
“That’s eating away at us, I mean we are in a very difficult financial situation,” Towbin said.
Towbin says the buyer immediately reached out to the town, something he says other developers neglected to do. “I’m optimistic, in this seems to be answering questions,” he said. But he remains wary, knowing many residents care deeply about the college and its legacy.
“I can also say that he understands loud and clear that the town is integrating Goddard so that it’s more part of the community, maybe like the way it used to be in the old days.”
Eecusuite officials declined an interview, saying they don’t have specific plans yet. They do say they want to maintain the campus and are “excited to work with the community.”
Plainfield residents like Sasha Thayer say they hope the space will be used to fill the town’s desperate need for housing. “We need housing, we need viable housing for any number of people of all different kinds of economic backgrounds,” she said.
“Part of it devoted to a community center and part low-income housing is a buzz phrase right now, like I said, but it’s needed,” said Brian Long, a local resident.
Others, like Dennis Wilber, say they hope it provides community services with similar values to Goddard. “I hope something happens to it that’s more in the education realm and the arts,” Wilber said.
Execusuite officials plan to take questions at a select board meeting on Monday.