Volume CXXXIII, Number 1 September 7, 2001 f

Despite zoning, College moves to buy Stowe Inn
JESS ZOLT-GILBURNE
Staff Writer

The Stowe House and Inn. The College is planning to purchase the building for student housing. (Henry Coppola, Bowdoin Orient)

Bowdoin College announced plans to purchase the Stowe House and Inn, a historic inn in downtown Brunswick. Maintaining the existing appearance of the house, the College would use the inn section of the structure for student housing.

Housing Bowdoin students at the Stowe Inn is not a new idea. As explained by Scott Hood, Associate Vice President/Director of Communications and Public Affairs beginning in the spring of 1999 and then again in the spring of 2000, when Bowdoin had more students who requested on-campus housing then was available, Bowdoin leased some rooms in the Stowe Inn.

The bed shortage and the decision to purchase the Stowe Inn is a function of the current period residential life transition at Bowdoin. As Bowdoin Vice President for Planning and Development at William Torrey said, "Essentially it is recognizing [that] with the renovations of fraternities and dorms we are about 50-60 beds short." Bob Graves, Director of Residential Life, stated, "Demand [for off campus housing] has dried up."

Hood explained that the college has leased the property for the 2001 fall semester, as it has done in some past semesters, in order to deal with the short-term problem of the current semester. This year, however, the college also looked into the purchase alternative for the future and "approached the owners earlier this semester" said Hood.

Although there is a formal offer from the College for the purchase of the Stowe Inn (the price is not yet public), Bowdoin "won't buy it unless the town approves changes to the zoning," added Hood.

The zoning issues concern the uses that are allowed on the property according to town ordinances.

Brunswick Town Planner Theo Holtwijk said "the majority of the property is TR-2 (Town Residential 2)," which means it is used for mostly single-family homes. Holtwijk added that the college would like the zoning changed to Cu-4 (College Use 4), which is "more geared towards the needs of the college." Cu-4 zoning would allow the property to be used for college offices, museums, and residence halls.

In order for requested the changes to be implemented, either Brunswick's zoning ordinance would need to allow for college residence halls or an amendment would be need to be made to the Stowe Inn's specific lot.

On August 29, a neighborhood meeting was held to give local residents a chance to ask questions and hear from representatives of the Brunswick town government and Bowdoin College. Hood described "people there [as] really supportive."

It wasn't only the college officials who were feeling optimistic about the town's reaction.

Holtwijk said, "People don't want to see Federal St. change; they don't want to see professional buildings up and down street. The neighbors say [that] the college has done a good job of maintaining properties."

There were, however, some concerns from residents.

"They mainly concerned 'what ifs,' such as, 'What if the college wanted to knock down a building?'" explained Hood, who also emphasized that "even if they [Bowdoin] did want to, there would need to be a process."

Although Hood also noted that there were a few concerns about the potential for misbehavior of Bowdoin students who live at the Stowe House, he added that many residents praised the resident students for their behavior.

Holtwijk said "a number of neighbors [commented on how] incredibly well behaved the students have been." Torrey said, "presuming [the sale] goes through, [it will be] largely because students have been so good. Neighbors say it is a pleasure. If students had not been so good [Bowdoin] would never have been able to do it. "

Torrey also said "I think our relationship with the town is very good at the moment, a very mutual respect. We will pay taxes to the town on the Stowe property." Because of the college's tax-exempt status, most of the currently owned college property is largely tax exempt.

Research assistance provided by an August 10 Times Record article written by Eric Diamon.