He pointed at water stains near the chimney, outdated wiring behind the kitchen, and a narrow bathroom doorway.

I looked at the same rooms and saw Arthur pouring coffee, laughing at a crossword clue, and telling me not to carry too many bags at once because I was getting older.

“The place has good bones,” the contractor said.

“But if you’re planning regular public gatherings, there’s a lot to consider.”

He was right.

We spent weeks talking with town officials about zoning, accessibility, fire safety, permitted uses, and what a small neighborhood program could legally and financially support.

Some ideas were too expensive.