Williamstown Select Board Awards Old Town Garage Bid to Williams College

WILLIAMSTOWN -- June 8, 2026, Williamstown Select Board unanimously awards bid for the town's last major downtown parcel to Williams College, opening formal negotiations. The board voted 5-0 Monday to advance the sale of 59 Water Street, a vacant lot known as the old town garage site, which has been on the market through four separate RFPs since 1999. Review committee chair Andrew Groff told the board Williams was the sole bidder, offering above the appraised value plus $50,000 per year for 10 years to the town's schools, but said the long-term tax impact rated the lowest possible score among the RFP's criteria. Williams College associate vice president for campus planning Mina Amansad described the proposal as an enabling step for a larger downtown athletic redevelopment that would open pedestrian connections between Water Street and Spring Street. Planning Board member Roger Lawrence, speaking as a private citizen, urged the board to hold the property, arguing pending zoning changes could attract commercial development "we can never unsell." The board then adjourned to executive session to give negotiating direction to Town Manager Bob Menicocci.