Town accepts Durkee’s bid for the former Killington Fire House

Mountain times 

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

By Curt Peterson

On Nov. 18 Steve Finer of the Fire Department signed the purchase and sale agreement for the former Killington Fire and Rescue (KF&R) fire house on Killington Road. The price to be paid is $415,000.

The buyer is Fireside Properties, LLC, one of several local companies owned by Stephen Durkee, and title is to be transferred on or before Jan. 15, 2021. The building is being sold “as is” and there are no contingencies for financing or satisfactory inspections.

Durkee also owns Killington Market, Inc., an abutting property on Killington Road.

Finer signed the purchase and sale agreement. The town is acting as authorized sales agent for KF&R, who own the property. Because the town has financed, and will own, the new Public Safety Building, which will be finished by the end of this month, proceeds of the sale will accrue to the town.

Selectman Jim Haff told the Mountain Times there is written authorization for the town to sell the property on the Fire Department’s behalf.

The request for proposals called for a minimum bid of $300,000. There were two bids, each for the minimum amount, one from Rock Landscaping and Property Management, and the other from Ryan Orabone, owner of Till I Die Apparel.

In addition to the higher price, stipulations favoring the seller included a 10-year easement to the existing truck refilling tank and Roaring Brook water access system for Killington Fire & Rescue.

Fireside Properties has agreed to “work with the Town of Killington to ensure that future development of the property is consistent with the anticipated new town center designation.”

The buyer has delivered a $5,000 deposit to the town, the balance of the purchase price to be paid when title is passed.

Mr. Durkee did not respond to the Mountain Times’s inquiry into his plans for the property.