The people of Harvard have voted repeatedly and overwhelmingly to protect the attractive and historically significant Bromfield House by selling it to a private buyer who will cherish and maintain it. We must honor that goal as options are considered at the upcoming Town Meeting.
The superhuman efforts of those who secured the house to serve temporarily as shelter for refugees in their time of need should be admired and applauded. But heartwarming as it may be, it is neither practical nor wise to continue to pursue the Bromfield House as a long-term residence for such a purpose.
Not practical. We face a massive override to cover the town’s expenses, and the prospect of income from the sale of the house is appealing and timely. While income may not be used to offset the actual town budget, the Bromfield School and Bromfield Trustees could allocate it to ease financial strain. While in limbo, the house is costing the town that lost income and the ongoing, unforeseen expenses of maintaining it as a safe residence.
Not wise. Organizations whose mission is to shelter people in need do not have a line in their budget for maintaining the beauty and character of historical buildings and grounds. We should not expect them to, and we should not head in that direction. Also, as voters requested, the property has been placed in the historic district and alterations would be onerous for such organizations.
This letter is not asking for good people to give up on their mission to provide housing, it is asking that we look elsewhere to achieve that goal. There are less significant houses in Harvard that have been sitting vacant and unused for many years. Efforts to investigate those possibilities or to find a more appropriate solution will surely be supported by the community that has worked so hard to get to this point.
Please uphold our past votes to sell the Bromfield House and encourage increased efforts to find alternative solutions for housing Harvard’s refugee families.
Bev Rodrigues
Old Littleton Road
