Eight years have passed since residents of a Massachusetts town successfully advocated for the purchase of a historic estate for $1.75million, yet the mansion remains vacant.
The White Cliffs estate, one of the last believed to be designed by the Herter Brothers – interior decorators renowned for their work with the Vanderbilt family and even the White House – has not been restored since its purchase in 2016.
Back then, Northborough overwhelmingly voted to save White Cliffs from demolition, but the restoration costs were largely underestimated.
Maintaining the property has become a real-life money pit. It now costs $42,500 annually, according to Public Works Director Scott Charpentier, while efforts to secure funding for restoration have repeatedly failed.
The iconic White Cliffs mansion was built in 1886 for American firearm designer Daniel Wesson – of Smith & Wesson fame – and his wife, Cynthia.
They met during Wesson’s apprenticeship in the area, and Cynthia, honoring her parents’ wishes, requested that their summer home be built on a portion of the land they owned.
The elegant mansion itself boasted stained glass windows, 17 fireplaces, and 32 rooms.
To many Northborough residents, White Cliffs evokes fond memories of weddings and celebrations held in its elegant halls.
A full eight years have passed since residents of Northborough successfully advocated for the town’s purchase of the historic White Cliffs estate for $1.75 million
The mansion remains unused, with annual maintenance costs of $42,500
Designed by the Herter Brothers, famed for their work with prominent clients like the Vanderbilt family and the White House
‘A lot of people in town didn’t really understand the historical significance of the building, they just had a lot of happy memories there,’ Kristen Wixted, a former Select Board member told the Boston Globe.
Robin Sinacole, 62, recalls her wedding reception at the mansion with fondness. Her in-laws, who were the very first couple to host their reception there, are still living today.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, Sinacole said: ‘It’s just so sad to see the mansion sitting there and deteriorating. It was such a beautiful building.’
As an owner of a local flower shop, Sinacole said she would love to see it reimagined into a wedding venue as it once was.
It was emotional connections like Sinacole’s that spurred residents to form the ‘Save the White Cliffs’ committee in 2016, rallying to prevent the mansion’s demolition.
Their success in convincing the town to purchase the property, however, left unanswered questions about its future.
The estimated $10million cost ‘just to make [White Cliffs] habitable’ as stated by Planning Director Laurie Connors, has proven a major obstacle, thwarting numerous grant applications and redevelopment proposals.
The town acquired the White Cliffs property in 2016 and issued a request for proposals to help restore its former glory in late 2022, receiving three responses.
The cost of buying and then maintaining the home since has amounted to the town spending more than $2million.
The iconic White Cliffs mansion was built in 1886 for American firearm designer Daniel Wesson – of Smith & Wesson fame – and his wife, Cynthia
The estimated $10 million cost ‘just to make [White Cliffs] habitable’ as stated by Planning Director Laurie Connors, has proven a major obstacle, thwarting numerous grant applications and redevelopment proposals
Multiple grant applications and redevelopment proposals have failed
A 2022 affordable housing proposal by MetroWest Collaborative Development was rejected due to neighborhood opposition
The White Cliffs Committee recommended awarding the contract to Metro West Collaborative Development, which proposed creating 52 affordable housing units within the mansion and a nearby building.
However, local opposition led the Select Board to reject the plan in 2023 after residents near the estate submitted a 250-signature petition.
A grant application to MassDevelopment to demolish a deteriorating 1960s addition also failed.
‘I was told by grant program staff that the White Cliffs Mansion isn’t eligible for grant funds because the ultimate reuse of the Mansion won’t be affordable housing or a commercial use that will result in jobs,’ Connors said.
She has since sought funding from the Community Preservation Committee to address the same issue, but this, too, depends on the Select Board outlining a clear plan for the estate.
The town eventually selected DBVW Architects to provide architectural and engineering services for the White Cliffs property in 2019.
A thorough engineering evaluation of the status of the building was provided in December 2020 as well as options for reuse with estimated costs – but to no avail.
Connors’ application remains under review and could be discussed at the Annual Town Meeting.
The town has already received $2.4 million under the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act for the estate’s purchase and stabilization.
For now, Northborough has opted to maintain White Cliffs indefinitely even in its state of disrepair.
The town received $2.4 million from the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act to stabilize the property
For now, Northborough has opted to maintain White Cliffs indefinitely even in its state of disrepair
A new funding application is under review by the Community Preservation Committee but hinges on a clear plan for the estate’s future
A proposal to repurpose White Cliffs as a new town hall has been suggested but is unlikely to be considered before 2030-2035 due to other funding priorities
For now, the White Cliffs estate remains unoccupied and unused, a historic treasure waiting for its next chapter
Despite nearly a decade of setbacks, Northborough hasn’t given up on the mansion.
The Feasibility Study Committee has proposed repurposing White Cliffs as a new town hall, replacing the current one, which operates out of an aging former high school plagued by maintenance issues.
However, even this plan is years away.
Select Board member Mitch Cohen explained that construction of a new town hall, at White Cliffs or elsewhere, won’t be considered until after higher-priority projects — such as building a new fire station and reconstructing Marguerite E. Peaslee Elementary School — are completed, likely between 2030 and 2035.
In the meantime, the Select Board has discussed issuing another request for proposals (RFP) to explore new ideas for the mansion’s use.
‘That’s been put on a back burner but it was a very interesting idea and I think something that we should consider greatly,’ said Select Board member Julianne Hirsh of the town hall proposal.
For now, the White Cliffs estate remains unoccupied and unused, a historic treasure waiting for its next chapter.
