Short-term rental issues lead to Essex Library reservations being canceled Marcia Pobzeznik
TIVERTON The owner of the former Essex Library, who spent three years rehabilitating the landmark 1938 Colonial Revival building on Highland Road, is considering selling it or leasing it long term now that Landmark Trust USA has canceled all reservations at the historic property while the town figures out how it wants to deal with short-term vacation rentals.
“I’m in a predicament. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m trying to look at my options,” said Richard Epstein of Vermont who bought the property from the town in 2017 for $395,000 and spent a substantial amount of money maintaining the historic integrity of the building while making it into a two-bedroom, three full bath vacation rental. It would have been operated by Landmark Trust USA, a non-profit established in 1991 in his hometown of Dummerston, Vermont, that rehabilitates historic properties fo
Marcia Pobzeznik
Daily News correspondent
TIVERTON The former Essex Library, which became a short-term vacation rental property earlier this month, is in a residential zone where retail businesses are not allowed, according to the town solicitor who has been asked by the Town Council to research short-term rental ordinances in other towns that could be adopted in Tiverton.
While the historic refurbishment of Essex, built in 1938, was “very well done,” Councilwoman Donna Cook said she has heard complaints about it becoming a rental property, along with another short-term rental in the Seapowet area where weddings and receptions have been hosted.
Short-term rentals bring new concerns to Tiverton and the council isn t sure what to do msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
What’s it worth? Tiverton paying to have power plant appraised
Marcia Pobzeznik
TIVERTON Tiverton and Rumford, Maine, a small town of 5,800 residents in the foothills of the western part of the Pine Tree state, are going through the same process right now: figuring out how to tax one of their biggest taxpayers going forward.
The two towns are home to Tiverton Power and Rumford Power, natural gas-fired electric generating plants that were built about the same time by the same company some two decades ago. Both towns entered into 20-year agreements with the original owners, in lieu of taxes. Tiverton’s tax treaty expired at the end of 2020; Rumford’s tax increment financing agreement is due to expire this March, but a new one has been negotiated and will be put to Rumford voters on Feb. 24, said Rumford Town Manager Stacy Carter.