But does everything have to be in the same building? Lynne Smith 5 Tabor Hill Road Lincoln, MA 01773 781-258-1175 Sent from my iPhone
> On 13 Nov 2022, at 12:19 p.m., sally kindleberger <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > Thank you for the clear explanation by the Community Center Building > Committee- November 2022 > > I would like to make clear we are not just looking for a facility for the > senior citizens of Lincoln. We are looking for a place that will also serve > the Parks and Recreation Department and Human Services. Neither Bemis Hall > nor Peirce House would be able to serve these extensive needs. > Sally >>>>>> > >> On Sun, Nov 13, 2022 at 8:42 AM Robert Hicks <[email protected]> wrote: >> Has anyone considered an arrangement with First Parish to use/renovate the >> Stone Church? Seems an obvious option >> >>> On Sun, Nov 13, 2022, 8:28 AM Barbara Low <[email protected]> wrote: >>> The space in the basement is not used as storage space. That was only >>> during covid when equipment needed to be "quarantined" before it was put in >>> the closet where health equipment is stored. >>> From: Lincoln <[email protected]> on behalf of Lynne Smith >>> <[email protected]> >>> Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2022 7:14 AM >>> To: Lincoln <[email protected]> >>> Subject: [LincolnTalk] Fwd: Community Center Building Committee- Why Build >>> A New Community Center? >>> >>> >>> >>> Lynne Smith >>> 5 Tabor Hill Road >>> Lincoln, MA 01773 >>> 781-258-1175 >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> Begin forwarded message: >>> >>>> From: Lynne Smith <[email protected]> >>>> Date: 13 November 2022 at 7:13:43 a.m. GMT-5 >>>> To: stephensakowich <[email protected]> >>>> Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Community Center Building Committee- Why Build >>>> A New Community Center? >>>> >>>> And turning the renovated basement, now mostly used for storage, into >>>> private meeting rooms, seems like a no brainer. While basement rooms sound >>>> dreary, much can be done with lighting, plants, and interesting >>>> materials—again, not $24 million! >>>> >>>> Lynne Smith >>>> 5 Tabor Hill Road >>>> Lincoln, MA 01773 >>>> 781-258-1175 >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>>> On 13 Nov 2022, at 7:09 a.m., stephensakowich <[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Yes Lynne, a new entrance & kitchen will not cost 25 million! >>>>> >>>>>> On Nov 12, 2022, at 2:13 PM, Lynne Smith <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Thank you, Seth. You have written another thoughtful analysis. >>>>>> >>>>>> I’d like to add to this discussion a possible solution to the parking >>>>>> problem at Bemis Hall. I don’t want to give in to parking lots as the >>>>>> only fix. I hope we can explore further the idea of a small (electric) >>>>>> van or car that would run on schedules timed for Events at Bemis Hall. >>>>>> People could park at pierce House, Hartwell pods, or even the Mall and >>>>>> get rides to Bemis. Perhaps some of us could form a study group to cost >>>>>> out such a service. >>>>>> >>>>>> I am more than willing to spend money to do a gut renovation of Bemis as >>>>>> we did for Town Offices. Seeing these beautiful old buildings repurposed >>>>>> for modern usage seems like a Lincoln value. >>>>>> >>>>>> Any thoughts? >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Lynne Smith >>>>>> 5 Tabor Hill Road >>>>>> Lincoln, MA 01773 >>>>>> 781-258-1175 >>>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>>> >>>>>>> On 12 Nov 2022, at 9:02 a.m., Seth Rosen <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi Krystal - >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Thanks for sharing these thoughts, and for the work the committee has >>>>>>> done over the years on this issue. I recognize it's a volunteer >>>>>>> endeavor, and genuinely appreciate that. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> What I'm struggling with - and what I think many other folks are >>>>>>> struggling with as well - is that we haven’t seen any alternatives that >>>>>>> take into account any existing fiscal constraints. No one has provided >>>>>>> a substantive response to the specific concerns I raised previously. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Basically I said “guys I don’t think we can afford a $25m+ community >>>>>>> center and here’s exactly why, in detail” and the response thus far has >>>>>>> been “we’ve wanted it for ten years, we’ve studied it, and it’s the >>>>>>> only solution. It will be great for the community.” >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Look - a $25M+ community center sounds amazing, and candidly I’d love >>>>>>> to use it. But I also recognize that; >>>>>>> >>>>>>> (a) we can't afford it without raising taxes by a lot, >>>>>>> (b) it costs a lot more to build and finance then it did in previous >>>>>>> years, which changes the calculus and previous analyses are no longer >>>>>>> valid, >>>>>>> (c) we have to operate it once we build it, and that’s a long term >>>>>>> commitment, >>>>>>> (d) the town has other mission-critical priorities (like DPW for >>>>>>> example) that also need to be paid for, and >>>>>>> (e) we just built and renovated a very expensive school. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> What you've presented feels like two options. One, we build a $25M+ >>>>>>> community center. Or two, we hack together using only what we have. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I personally would like to see Option 3 and Option 4, where we >>>>>>> prioritize and improve certain mission critical items (like the LEAP >>>>>>> pod for example), and optimize other under-utilized spaces - all in the >>>>>>> context of a capital budget that manages people's expectations and >>>>>>> reconciles needs and wants with economic and fiscal realities. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I know and understand this community center project is a labor of love >>>>>>> for many, but to be candid, it just doesn't feel to me like there is >>>>>>> town support for a $25M community center and if that's the case we need >>>>>>> to evaluate whether it's prudent to spend over $300K developing designs >>>>>>> for something Lincoln won't vote to actually build. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Seth I Rosen >>>>>>> Cell: 617-771-5602 >>>>>>> Email: [email protected] >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Fri, Nov 11, 2022 at 8:07 AM Krystal Wood >>>>>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> Community Center Building Committee- November, 2022 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Why would Lincoln build a new Community Center rather than use existing >>>>>>> buildings? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Lincoln has known for a long time that Bemis Hall is not an appropriate >>>>>>> building for the Council on Aging & Human Services (COA&HS): >>>>>>> >>>>>>> · A 2008 needs assessment “determined that Bemis Hall not be the >>>>>>> long-term home for the COA.” (Since that assessment, the Lincoln >>>>>>> senior population has increased by 50%.) >>>>>>> · In 2012, the Community Center Feasibility Committee (CCFC) >>>>>>> concluded about Bemis Hall that it was “not built to be a modern senior >>>>>>> center with myriad programs and services.” >>>>>>> · The CCFC reiterated in a 2013 follow-up that Bemis is “not well >>>>>>> suited for a senior center.” >>>>>>> · In February, 2015, the Community Center Study Committee (CCSC) >>>>>>> reported that, “compared with neighboring towns, the quality, size and >>>>>>> condition of Lincoln’s COA facility is vastly inferior, and its >>>>>>> physical deficits limit the programs and services which can be offered >>>>>>> to elders.” >>>>>>> · The CCSC provided additional detail about the shortcomings of >>>>>>> Bemis Hall: “the interior space does not allow for congregate meals, a >>>>>>> significant drop-in area, adequate and confidential office space for >>>>>>> staff and volunteers, private restroom locations, or all programming >>>>>>> needed to meet the needs of Lincoln’s growing population of older >>>>>>> adults.” >>>>>>> · In 2018, the Community Center Preliminary Planning & Development >>>>>>> Committee wrote more broadly that: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Doing nothing to provide adequate facilities for the COA, PRD [Parks & >>>>>>> Recreation Department], and community organizations is not an option. >>>>>>> The physical plants of both Bemis Hall and the pods continue to age, >>>>>>> and it makes no sense for the Town to continue to expend scarce tax >>>>>>> dollars to fix up, patch up and make do with facilities that do not >>>>>>> suit their purpose. Just as important, every year that these >>>>>>> departments and organizations are not able to provide the range of >>>>>>> activities and programs that are standard in other towns and are >>>>>>> located in buildings that discourage residents from making use of their >>>>>>> services means that opportunities to improve residents’ quality of life >>>>>>> are lost. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> In 2012, the CCFC studied other town facilities, asking whether any >>>>>>> existing building could serve as a better home for the COA&HS than >>>>>>> Bemis Hall. The CCFC concluded that no other existing building could >>>>>>> serve the needs of the COA. Pierce House, for instance, has two assets >>>>>>> – a good location and plentiful parking – but fails on every other >>>>>>> criterion as a potential home for the COA&HS: the spaces in the >>>>>>> existing building don’t match the programmatic needs, the possibilities >>>>>>> for extensive expansion or reconfiguration are very limited, and Pierce >>>>>>> House couldn’t accommodate the Parks & Recreation Department (PRD). >>>>>>> >>>>>>> For over 10 years, Town Committees have studied and evaluated options >>>>>>> for a Community Center., and have consistently concluded that >>>>>>> continuing to offer activities and services under the existing >>>>>>> conditions of Bemis Hall and the pods is no longer feasible or >>>>>>> acceptable. Other existing town facilities do not offer a solution to >>>>>>> the problem. If Lincoln wants a Community Center, then building a new >>>>>>> one is the most efficient use of town resources. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> We welcome all input and questions from town residents, and will make >>>>>>> every effort to solicit, hear, and address the priorities, values and >>>>>>> concerns of Lincoln residents concerning a new Community Center. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>>>>>> Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. >>>>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>>>>>> Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. >>>>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>>>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>>>>> Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. >>>>>> Browse the archives at >>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>>>>> >>>>> >>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>> Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. >>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >> Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >
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