The Oak Grove Cape Verdean Cultural Center Committee is asking the town to extend its lease at 314 Onset Ave., as financial troubles have prevented it from constructing a building that would house job training courses and pay homage to Cape Verdean history at the site.

Town Meeting voted to enter into a lease of up to 99 years in 2009. The Cape Verdean Cultural Committee was given two years, plus a six month extension built into the contract, to build the Cape Verdean Cultural Center as a stipulation of the lease.

One of the attorneys for the center, Del DeMiranda, appeared before the Selectmen on Tuesday to ask for an extension.

"Basically, what we're seeking is additional time to start this project and complete it," said DeMiranda.

The Cape Verdean Cultural Center is slated to be built at the site of the former Oak Grove School. The vast majority of its students were Cape Verdean, and many elderly Cape Verdeans on the South Coast attended the school.

Questions arose as to whether the committee's lease has expired, which would mean it would have to go through the procurement process again.

Town attorney Rich Bowen said that he had not had adequate time to review the issue, and the Selectmen agreed to revisit it at a later date.

"As long as it's still a live, unexpired lease you can modify this," said Bowen.

The town never sent the center a notice terminating the lease as far as the Selectmen know, so it is currently unclear whether or not the lease still stands.

According to DeMiranda, the slumping economy has left the organization unable to begin construction, much less complete it.

"No one anticipated how bad the economy was going to be," said DeMiranda. "The funds are not coming in."

DeMiranda requested that the organization be given ten years to complete the project.

Selectman Steve Holmes acknowledged that economic conditions have hampered the project, but noted that it's still worth pursuing.

"Many have worked for many years to make this a reality," he said.

The Selectmen will make a decision after Bowen has had a chance to review documents pertaining to the lease.

"We're not trying to hold this up, we're just trying to get it done right," said Selectmen Chair Peter Teitelbaum.