The former post office building overlooking the Common is up for sale, a decade after two Foxboro men acquired it as headquarters for their real estate and insurance company, New England Group Services Inc.
Erik McKenzie and Ken Olson have advertised the property, at 4 Cocasset St., with an asking price of $1.45 million.
But they are also open to instead leasing the 6,000 square foot, two-floor building to the town, for use as municipal office space, during the eventual renovation or replacement of Town Hall.
The building fits 35 to 40 people, McKenzie said. It has a walk-in vault — which the post office used to store stamps — and a downstairs meeting room.
Because technology allows their associates to often work from home, like people in many industries, New England Group needs only 2,000 square feet of space, McKenzie said. Their company has 16 brokers and administrative personnel in the building, and four off site.
They have yet to pick a new office site, but McKenzie said it will be in Foxboro, the community where they first opened 24 years ago.
Town manager Kevin Paicos toured the New England Group building last week, accompanied by building commissioner Bill Casbarra and public works chief Roger Hill.
Town Hall annex?
Paicos said leasing the former post office as a Town Hall annex is just one of several options available to the town during the time of construction.
He acknowledged, however, that the former post office alone would not provide sufficient space for current Town Hall employees and functions, and a second temporary site might be needed.
McKenzie, chairman of the Foxboro board of appeals, said he might step down from that board if that helps ensure an arms-length transaction with the town.
They bought the building in Feb., 2003 years ago. Their extensive remodeling included custom cherry millwork, and granite in the lobby. "We've had a lot of pride in this space," said McKenzie.
Several months ago, the U.S. Postal service announced that it will try to sell the current post office building, on Wall Street, and town officials have also looked into that site as a Town Hall.
Selectmen chairman Jim DeVellis expressed regret this month for the way the Town Hall project has gotten waylaid year after year by obstacles.