SoRo Selex Rent
Opera House

The Royalton Selectboard announced last week that the town has entered into an agreement to rent the Knight’s Opera House (Grange Hall) across from the current town offices.

Five years ago, the selectboard informed the trustees of the public library that a new space for town offices would be sought. The library trustees were searching for ways to expand and remodel their facility.

Up until now, the board’s administrative assistant, and the police chief shared one small room in the library building, and the three listers share a room that also serves as access to the bathroom and upstairs access to the library. The town clerk and treasurer and assistants share the main lobby, which also serves as meeting and work space.

Last year, plans were developed for the Hope property that included a $1.6 million town office building, but feeling that this was too expensive, the selectboard took no action. Early this year, upon learning that the opera house was vacant, the board began negotiating with the owners about a possible lease with an option to buy.

As a result of those talks, the town now has a one-year lease agreement to rent the building and hopes to have a purchase price figure to present to voters at Town Meeting in March. The rent is $500 per month, plus utilities, with 30% of the rent going toward the purchase of the building, if approved by the town.

The selectboard has winterized the building and moved the administrative assistant and police chief’s offices into the new location. The selectboard office and the police chief phone numbers will remain the same.

The listers are moving into their (now vacant) office and will stay in the current building, along with the town clerk and treasurer, since both need access to the records housed in the vault. No major renovations are planned for the opera house until the town votes to purchase the building.

Administrative assistant Jackie Higgins noted that, "a major reason for the purchase is that the town will then be eligible for various grants to help pay for ADA and weatherization issues, along with Historic Preservation and Downtown Enhancement grants. Had the town decided to build a brand new building, there would be no grants available for construction.

"The board is pleased that new office and public meeting space can be made available for a fraction of the cost of a new facility," she concluded.

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