Nahant Legion eyes Lifesaving Station home

NAHANT – Negotiations are still ongoing between the American Legion, the Nahant Lifesaving Station committee and Nahant Preservation Trust for use of a portion of the space in the Coast Guard Station on Nahant Road.The Nahant Veterans Association owned a Coolidge Road property that was occupied by the American Legion for decades. The American Legion building was sold to Advanced Building Concepts of Nahant in April for $446,000 and the building was razed.Since April, the American Legion has been meeting in Town Hall, but it has its sight set on a new home in the Nahant Lifesaving Station, which is undergoing renovations.Selectman Richard Lombard, who is a past commander of the American Legion, said one of the issues that needs to be resolved before the American Legion could finalize a deal with the Nahant Preservation trust for the use of the property is zoning.Lombard said because the Coast Guard Station was abandoned for so long, the zoning for the property reverted back to recreational and it would need to be rezoned commercial before the facility could be occupied.”We plan to put this on the annual Town Meeting warrant in April,” he said.American Legion member Peter Przybycien said the American Legion is looking for a long-term lease agreement for the use of approximately 500 square feet of the former Nahant Lifesaving Station.”We are looking at using approximately one-third of the first floor in what was the mess hall,” he said. “The negotiations have been very cordial between all parties. Everyone is looking at the best possible use of the property. It’s been all about a win-win for everyone involved and for the town.”Przybycien said the American Legion is talking about making a lump sum payment in excess of $200,000 in exchange for the long-term use of the space.”While we’re waiting to tackle zoning at Town Meeting, we’re working on finalizing details of a lease agreement with the Nahant Lifesaving Station Committee, which is under the umbrella of the Nahant Preservation Trust,” he said. “The money we donate would be used to renovate the interior. I think people will be happy to see us occupy the building. It will breathe some life back into it and open the building for other uses.”