December 8, 2020 by Carol Britton Meyer
Following the recent narrow Special Town Meeting approval for the town to purchase a $5.5 million parcel of land at 335 Lincoln St. for potential use as a combined Hingham Police and Fire Department public safety building, the tentative closing date on the property is Dec. 17.
"Purchasing this parcel gives the town options to address long-term facility needs, with the takeaway of a new Senior Center as well," Town Administrator Tom Mayo told the Selectmen during last night's remote meeting. "This is a very important step for the town."
If the project becomes a reality, the current Senior Center would expand into the space currently occupied by the police station.
The total cost of the proposed public safety facility project -- with the most recent estimate at about $35 million -- was not the subject of the Special Town Meeting vote -- nor were voters asked to approve or to fund the building of the facility at this time. The cost would be lower if the scope and size of the project changes.
More details will be available as the process unfolds.