'Historic' transformation planned.

• Author: Cleveland, Ken
• Position: Local

Byline: Ken Cleveland

BOLTON -- The former Smith family garage is gone now, remembered only in the pages of history.

The central Main Street property, once bustling with an auto repair business and two homes, is now envisioned as a place for community activities as a Town Common.

"Our goal is to create an outdoor gathering space that will strengthen our sense of community,'' said Meg O'Leary, co-chairman of the Bolton Conservation Trust's committee, which is spearheading the project.

Trust members report fundraising is going well, and the decaying buildings recently came down, leaving an open site ready for work to begin, likely this summer.

"The Bolton Town Common will become the focal point of Bolton center and will make it easy and fun to walk or bike between the school, the library, Town Hall, local churches, senior housing, Memorial Field and private residences,'' Ms. O'Leary said.

"We believe it may even inspire the start of a village-like atmosphere in the town center. We see this as an opportunity to bring Bolton residents together in a lively outdoor setting for generations to come.''

She called it "one of the biggest transformations in Bolton's history.''

In a display of how far the project has progressed from idea to reality, alternatives for development of the site are being displayed at the town library again on Thursday for residents to view and comment on.

"While creating a beautiful, community-centric common is our goal, it is only one part of our cause,'' Co-Chairman Robert Roemer said, adding the project fits with the trust's mission "to preserve the rural character of and natural assets of Bolton.''

He sees it as the biggest challenge the trust has taken on, "but also as an absolute necessity given our mission.

"This initiative also represents a very significant environmental cleanup. The gas station and two houses previously located on the property, and the surrounding land, have been contaminated for many years. In fact, the town of Bolton declined the opportunity to buy the properties two times, primarily because of the financial responsibilities associated with the cleanup,'' he said.

The project came about after the property languished for several years, the buildings all abandoned.

"We felt that we had to step up and take the lead here,'' Mr. Roemer said.

Community input has been crucial to the project, which will rely on contributions of time and money to bring the Town Common to life.

"On the survey, we received...