Let me develop it. Let me get stuck with the land. So what if I make money in five or 10 years? I’m taking the risk, I’m making it happen.”

Jim Long

I don’t have faith that if we did follow through ... that he wouldn’t try to push the envelope on [future projects] like he has on his current complex.”

Tiverton Town Council member Mike Burk

If this is a viable project that is going to put a $20 million dollar building on a piece of property where today the benefit to taxpayers is zero dollars, and it’s going to yield hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue, that’s just going to help us out ... The more revenue we can get that is not on the backs of a residential taxpayer, the better.”

Tiverton Town Council member John G. Edwards V

Several Tiverton Town Council members are ready to revisit a $2 million offer to purchase virtually all available undeveloped land in the Industrial Park, after initially rejecting the idea.

Jim Long, owner of the Longplex Family and Sports Center, is eyeing about 127 acres of town-owned land for commercial projects, including the construction of an ice hockey complex and a car storage building. Other projects, which he said are only conceptual at this point, include construction of a hotel at an unspecified future date.

Earlier this month, Long said he was informed by Tiverton Town Administrator Chris Cotta that the town council had considered his proposal to purchase the property in executive session but ultimately rejected it, in part because the offer was too low. Both he and his attorney, Daniel Reilly, were surprised by the response.

“Our intention in going to the council was to have them vote to allow the town administrator and the solicitor to negotiate with us,” Long said. “Instead, we got a flat ’No.’ No negotiation, no counter on price.”

Although the July 8 town council agenda indicated Long’s offer would be revisited during executive session, councilors voted to discuss the matter publicly instead, saying they wanted to dispel some rumors.

“I think we should do this in the open because there is a lot of misconception out there, and I thought it was important to explain what is going on and to say we are working with Mr. Long,” said council president Denise deMedeiros. 

Town solicitor Michael Marcello said that since 2021, Long and town officials have periodically discussed various real estate proposals that never resulted in an actual sale. The current offer, he said, has generated unfounded rumors, particularly on social media.

“To suggest the town has been sitting on this and not working diligently to try to come to an agreement is simply not true. We are here to figure out how to go forward and are looking for instruction from the council.”

At least two council members seemed reluctant to proceed.

“From the times he’s been before us, I have no trust in him,” council vice president Mike Burk said, in an apparent reference to tensions that have surfaced on both sides when Long has come before the council seeking approval for various Longplex-sponsored special events.

“I don’t have faith that if we did follow through ... that he wouldn’t try to push the envelope on [future projects] like he has on his current complex,” and added that he doesn’t think the town should consider any deal with Long, on any terms.

Councilor Jay Edwards said the $2 million offer was too low, particularly when compared to previous and current appraisals of the Industrial Park that are in the $5 million range. He also referred to a 2022 offer of $6.6 million for 109 acres by NorthPoint Development Corp., a company that eventually withdrew from the deal.

Additionally, Edwards said he objected to Long’s request that the town complete certain infrastructure projects at the business park before the deal is finalized, and he said water capacity in town may not be sufficient for an ice hockey complex.

In response, Reilly said all aspects of Long’s proposal are subject to negotiation, including suggested infrastructure improvements.

Reilly labeled the NorthPoint offer “very aggressive and a great one for the town.” But “it didn’t make any sense for a builder and that’s why, among other reasons, they didn’t close.”

“We are open to negotiation on the price,” Reilly said. “But I think the town has to understand where we are coming in as a developer ... and what a realistic price per acre is. It’s not that we are trying to get the steal of the century. It’s just what it costs to realistically build in the Industrial Park.”

Councilor John G. Edwards V said he is open to further negotiations, citing the benefit to the town if the Industrial Park property finally gets on the tax rolls.

“If this is a viable project that is going to put a $20 million dollar building on a piece of property where today the benefit to taxpayers is zero dollars, and it’s going to yield hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue, that’s just going to help us out ... The more revenue we can get that is not on the backs of a residential taxpayer, the better.”

The town purchased land for creation of the Industrial Park in the late 1980s with the intention of expanding the tax base and creating new employment opportunities. Attracting suitable businesses through the decades has been a challenge. Currently, Longplex’s existing facility, along with Tiverton Power and a self-storage facility, are housed there, and the town intends to build its new recycle center within the park.

Long said he is perplexed by the some councilors’ apparent lack of enthusiasm for his offer, particularly in view of the fire department’s and school district’s budget challenges.

“Let me develop it. Let me get stuck with the land. So what if I make money in five or 10 years? I’m taking the risk, I’m making it happen.”