Mayor plans to spend city, Quincy College's COVID recovery money on Monroe Building

QUINCY — Mayor Thomas Koch said he plans to use $15 million in federal pandemic recovery money given to the city and Quincy College to purchase the Monroe Building downtown, which he has had his eye on in hopes it will someday house a new building for city hall offices and the college.

Koch spoke about the plan Thursday when U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch came to Quincy College to announce the school will receive $10.7 million from the federal American Rescue Plan. Lynch was also in Quincy two months ago to announce $46 million in federal funds for the city as a whole. 

"This round of funding is really discretionary," Lynch said. "I know from my work with Mayor Thomas Koch and the way he has run this city, that the money given, this $10.7 million to Quincy College, will be spent wisely. I know, with the help and guidance of the city council, these resources will be used to the greatest extent to help the students here and the institution itself."

Of the $10.7 million for Quincy College, half is earmarked for financial aid. Koch said he plans to ask the Quincy College Board of Governors to put the other half toward purchasing 1177 and 1227 Hancock St. An additional $10 million from the city's American Rescue Plan allocation would be enough to buy the land, he said. 

"I try to stay in my own lane, so I bring the money to Quincy and then I step back, but I have heard ideas that have been talked about buying a new building for Quincy College and that is tremendously exciting," Lynch said. 

Koch announced plans last January to buy the Monroe Building and build a 15-story tower to house a campus for Quincy College and city hall offices. This spring he asked city councilors to spend $23 million to buy the land and pay for some design costs, but the mayor withdrew the request two weeks ago when it became clear most city councilors would not support the plan.

City councilors will not have to approve this purchase. The mayor's office has sole discretion when it comes to spending federal money, unlike spending the city's money.

The initial plan spurred heated debate between councilors, some of whom questioned the viability of Quincy College and asked if the city should be running a community college at all. Koch said he understands city councilor's hesitancy about the project he proposed, but said buying the Monroe Building and land is an opportunity too good to pass up, even if his initial plan doesn't come to fruition. 

"I think the important piece for me is to secure that building and that location. It is a hot spot and I can tell you that there is going to be a lot of movement in the downtown in the coming months," Koch said. "Obviously people know that I'm interested in the college, but this could be another commercial entity here with the college or without the college. We will master plan this whole site around the Quincy Center (T) station. This is the future." 

On Thursday, Ward 1 City Councilor Dave McCarthy called Quincy College a "poster child" for diverse and inclusive education. 

"Quincy College is an inexpensive, efficient way for our people to get that education," Koch said. "It serves a unique population not only in Quincy, but in parts of Boston and the South Shore ... It has developed into a first class college. We have gone through some ups and downs, but I am proud that city continues to be attached to Quincy College."

Original Source: https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/2021/05/27/quincy-college-downtown-building-american-rescue-plan-federal-money/7475601002/