I think this is wise and sound (and realistic) thinking from Lynne and Bob and hope it will be considered David Giber
On Wed, Nov 16, 2022 at 10:20 AM Lynne Smith <[email protected]> wrote: > Bob, > > Thank you for articulating my thoughts. I was about to write a similar > email. I hope the CCBC will consider attaching a ‘budget’ of $15mm to the > $325K study. If the original architect (Maryann Thompson) could be > challenged to do what they could with a smaller budget, everyone might be > very happy with the outcome. For example, some areas might be cut out > altogether but renovations could be made to ensure that we can continue to > use our beloved Bemis safely for individual meetings (soundproofed offices, > better bathrooms) and auditorium events. I am just not willing to see > Bemis deteriorate because we have put everything into a brand new building > that looks like it could be anywhere in the country! > > That said, I love MaryannThompson’s designs: the CC, Walden Pond visitors > center, and a private home I visited on Chappaquiddick a couple of years > ago! > > I bet that team could come up with an innovative approach that would cost > far less but still meet our needs: cozy at Bemis, modern and open at > Hartwell. > > I’m headed to Town Offices today to look at the 2018 report and its > appendices. I appreciate all the work that has been done to date and don’t > want it to go unnoticed (e.g., throw out the baby with the bathwater?). > > Best, > Lynne Smith > > > Lynne Smith > 5 Tabor Hill Road > Lincoln, MA 01773 > cell: 781-258-1175 > [email protected] > > > > On Nov 16, 2022, at 9:56 AM, Bob Mason <[email protected]> wrote: > > Rhonda, > > I and I believe many fellow citizens concur with your general sentiment, > but I believe the core of the nervousness is the concern that the $325K > will be spent on flushing out one of the existing designs, of which we have > been informed could be a $25MM+ project and a portion of the community is > not comfortable spending that sum of money on a community center. We are > then put into a potential situation where we spend $325K on a design that > is then rejected by the community. > > Collectively, perhaps the town is comfortable spending a lower amount - > perhaps the original price tag of $15MM is a good target? - if that is the > case, how do we capture that sentiment now to give direction to the CCPC > and the architecture firm for this next phase of design? > > Perhaps the vote does not need to be so discrete with a Yes or No vote on > just allocating $325K. Perhaps attaching a max project cost constraint > would reassure people that spending the $325K now won't lead to a project > that is ultimately rejected by the town and thus wasting $325K (a > significant sum, regardless of the source). > > bob > > On Wed, Nov 16, 2022 at 9:27 AM Rhonda Swain <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> In the last few weeks, Lincolnites have engaged in a lively discussion on >> Lincoln Talk about the pros and cons of building a new Community Center. >> Some voices urge a “no” vote at the November 30 Special Town Meeting to >> stop the Town from spending $325,000 to hire an owner’s representative and >> an architect to flesh out the existing Community Center schematic designs. >> >> >> To me, the idea of halting the project at this point fails to honor many >> aspects of the kind of democracy on which Lincoln prides itself. >> >> >> · First, it would simply discard the decade of hard work that >> resulted in the designs we have in hand today, effectively saying >> “Everything has changed, so the work of the past is invalid.” This seems >> short-sighted. The benefits of a Community Center have been >> well-documented and long promised to the residents of Lincoln. It seems >> unlikely that things have changed so much that we need a hard stop at this >> point. >> >> >> · Second, it doesn’t give the current Community Center Building >> Committee a chance to work with professionals to come up with complete >> proposals on which the Town can vote. Approving the expenditure to hire >> professionals to develop more complete designs doesn’t commit the Town to >> any design. Property taxes will NOT increase because of this vote. There >> will be another chance to vote on the final project, with much better >> information on costs, trade-offs against other Town priorities, and >> property tax impacts. >> >> >> · Finally, shutting the project down now does not give private >> fundraising a chance to tap into the generosity of Lincoln’s residents who >> may well be willing to make a significant contribution to the cost of the >> Community Center project in order to reduce the Town’s portion of the cost >> and the consequent burden on property taxpayers. >> >> >> I strongly urge everyone to come out to the Special Town Meeting on >> November 30 and vote in favor of moving the Community Center project to the >> next phase. In this way, we can give residents a chance to get a fair look >> at what a Community Center will provide and what it will cost. >> >> >> Call the Lincoln COA&HS at 781-259-8811 if you need a ride to the Town >> Meeting. >> >> >> Rhonda Swain >> -- >> 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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