ABINGTON - May 11, 2026 - The Abington Select Board has set the stage for a significant shift in town property management, moving forward with the sale of the blighted North and Center school buildings. The board also streamlined local business regulations, adopting a temporary 2026 outdoor dining policy designed to help restaurants capitalize on the summer season without the typical red tape of the Planning Board.
The Full Story
Town Manager Mike Maresco delivered a comprehensive update on the long-awaited redevelopment of two former school sites: the North School (currently utilized by the DPW) and the residential Center Street school. Maresco revealed that Request for Proposals (RFP) will go live on May 20th, with a submission deadline of June 19th [31:32].
The buildings, which have become a financial “drain” on the town, recently required emergency water pumping and electricity shut-offs due to flooding [32:50]. Maresco noted that each building requires approximately $1 million in asbestos remediation—a cost that will now fall to the future developers rather than the taxpayers [33:53]. The town is looking for “best use” proposals that generate long-term tax revenue, such as assisted living facilities or other commercial developments [33:15].
“The reason we’re selling is they’re sort of a drain... Now they’ll produce revenue, which will help us in the long term.” [32:50] — Mike Maresco, Town Manager
