Heated debate between city councilors shows little support for new Quincy College, city hall

QUINCY — City councilors argued with each other and other city leaders at a finance committee Thursday night to discuss a potential new high rise for city hall and Quincy College. Most councilors questioned if the city's commitment to the college makes financial sense and many said the project seemed like a waste of taxpayer money. 

Councilors are expected to vote Monday on whether or not the city should spend $23 million on the first step of the project, which expected to cost upwards of $100 million in total. 

The first $23 million would pay for the city to buy the Munroe Building at 1227-1259 Hancock St., which Mayor Thomas Koch wants to tear down and replace with a 16-story city hall and campus for Quincy College. The project would include tearing down the glass portion of the existing city hall, which Koch says is dated, energy inefficient and will require expensive renovations in the coming decade. 

Since councilors started formally discussing the building in March, the project has been a dividing one that has thrust the school's financial and enrollment problems into the spotlight. Some elected officials say it's time to cut bait from Quincy College all together, and others say it's a valuable resource the city can't afford to lose. 

At Thursday's meeting, Ward 4 City Councilor Brian Palmucci said he was willing to approve the $23 million for the land, but that he wanted its purpose taken out of the bonding language. He's not sold on the idea of building a permanent home for Quincy College with taxpayer money, but said he's on board with the city buying the land for a future project or to sell later.

"I've really struggled with this request and where I stand on it," Palmucci said. "There are a lot of concerns about the college's finances, the governance and the longevity in general. ... I think purchasing the property in general is a good idea. The property is for sale and now is the time to buy it. I think we can all agree that what's there now is not the best and highest use for the property. I support the expenditure of $23 million for the property, but I can't support it for the college at this point."

Palmucci's idea to separate the college from the land purchase failed by a vote of 5 to 4. 

"So now we're just buying a building for no reason?" Councilor Ian Cain asked of Palmucci's motion. 

Quincy College is the only community college in the state, and possibly the country, that is run by a municipality. The college technically operates its own budget separate from the city, but it is city owned; the city owns its debts and liabilities; and its staff and teachers are Quincy employees. 

Anne Mahoney, an at-large city councilor, questioned the school's enrollment projections, financial history and a study commissioned by the city that says Quincy College brings in $50 million of economic benefit to the city each year. She also said that 81 percent of the school's students come from outside of Quincy, and that it doesn't seem right for taxpayers to shoulder the burden to serve so many people who don't live in Quincy.

"I just don't buy it," Mahoney said. "I don't think the 2,000 students coming into the city are eating enough burgers or buying enough pizza to bring $50 million to Quincy." 

Nina Liang, the council president, said it doesn't feel like the right time to embark on such a large project.

"This doesn't make sense to me at this point," she said. "We aren't just committing to the cost of this land with this vote, we are committing to an uncertain amount of money that is going to come down the pipeline for this project."

Cain tried to call for a vote on Thursday, but Finance Committee Chair David McCarthy said vote will happen at Monday's 6 p.m. meeting ahead of a regularly scheduled city council meeting. 

The $23 million appropriation would use $15 million to pay for the Munroe Building and a parking lot at 1177 Hancock St., which both have the same owner. About $6 million would be used to relocate tenants in the Munroe Building, which includes offices on the second floor and retail and restaurants on the first floor,  such as coffee shop Gunther Tooties. The remaining $2 million would go toward design and consultant work. 

The proposed building would accommodate 205,000 square feet for the two uses, with about 145,000 square feet going to the college. The space outlined for Quincy College is about 30 percent bigger than its current footprint. 

Original Source: https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/2021/05/14/city-councilors-wary-proposed-quincy-college-campus-new-city-hall/5089909001/