Wait, if the RLF 4 acres is rezoned HCA, then wouldn’t it be sold to a private developer?
Do you think that they would create a rental space that might then be utilized for COA activities? Is that what you were suggesting would happen Margaret? Just trying to understand how we can make this happen. Maybe the commuter rail lot would be better for this? Rob On Fri, Dec 1, 2023 at 12:05 PM Lynne Smith <[email protected]> wrote: > Thank you for the clarification, Margaret. > > Lynne Smith > 5 Tabor Hill Road > Lincoln, MA 01773 > cell: 781-258-1175 > [email protected] > > > > On Dec 1, 2023, at 11:52 AM, Margaret Olson <[email protected]> wrote: > > There is nothing that would prevent the RLF from providing or preserving > the option of community center space. And, since it would likely be a > long-term lease arrangement, it would spread the cost over the life of the > lease with the upfront construction costs borne by the developer. > > On Fri, Dec 1, 2023 at 10:44 AM Lynne Smith <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Option E is the only HCA option that would allow us to think about >> including the Community Center at the Mall. >> >> Lynne Smith >> 5 Tabor Hill Road >> Lincoln, MA 01773 >> cell: 781-258-1175 >> [email protected] >> >> >> >> On Dec 1, 2023, at 8:53 AM, Jane Appell <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Ken, >> >> You make a great point. The community center and housing zoning came up >> at different times as separate issues. But, For good planning and to >> provide the most benefit to the town as we would like to see it, it makes >> sense to look at them both together while we have the chance. >> >> Jane >> >> >> Jane Appell, Ph.D. >> Sent from my iPad >> >> On Dec 1, 2023, at 7:54 AM, Ken Hurd <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Hello LincolnTalkers, >> With apologies for expressing yet again my strongly held opinion as an >> architect concerned with what we build in Lincoln, I want to remind >> everyone why I and many others believe we should not build a community >> center on the school campus. I still believe it should be located in >> Lincoln Station, particularly now that our small commercial area is in play >> because of the Housing Choice Act. >> >> As I wrote last year, "I fully support building a new facility, but it >> has long been my opinion that such a major investment by the town should be >> deployed where it is most needed - namely in the Lincoln Station area. For >> more than ten years since Town Meeting approved the Comprehensive Long >> Range Plan, in which the revitalization of Lincoln Station was >> overwhelmingly one of the highest priorities, the area has lain dormant and >> in serious need of a catalyst to jumpstart its transformation into the >> compact, vital, walkable village center that was a stated goal at the >> time. A community center in such a location would be the equivalent of an >> anchor store in a retail setting, and by virtue of attracting more people >> on a regular basis, it would create more opportunities for a clustered >> cross-current of activities spawning greater social interaction." >> >> As many will recall at last year’s Town Meeting, there was serious >> concern about the cost to build it, and I am of the opinion that there are >> better ways to accomplish this than spending anywhere from $18 to $24 >> million of taxpayer money to do so. As was recently suggested to me by an >> experienced urban planner, why not include the Community Center as a >> required accessory use in the development of a future residential >> project at Lincoln Station? >> >> As he said, “With clear program requirements and project parameters to >> guide the design of a new project, developers can be very efficient in >> realizing a good project on time and within budget.” Moreover, “It would >> be a plus to any potential developer's proforma to have a confirmed tenant >> (assuming COA long-term lease) for … an active community use in purposely >> designed ground level space. This strategy would minimize the cost to >> Lincoln upfront financing for design and construction, replace public >> project inefficiencies with professional development expertise, and as such >> the new Community Center facility may be more affordable to the town's >> stressed taxpayers." >> >> As I also wrote last year, I believe it would constitute the classic >> suburban planning error to create a new facility that stands alone at the >> school and, like the suburban mall, accessible only by car. In addition, >> because of school protocols, there would be very limited inter-generational >> co-mingling until after school hours, if at all. And, even if there >> weren’t a greater awareness about the effects of climate change, wouldn’t >> it make far more sense to locate a community center where there are already >> other crucial services such as the post office, grocery store, cleaners, a >> cafe and restaurant, not to mention the potential for more housing? >> >> Earlier this week I wrote the Selects about including an option to vote >> for “None of the Above” at tomorrow’s Town Meeting. Absent any response, I >> plan to vote for Option 3 ($12.5 million project cost) that has already >> been characterized as not sufficient to provide services comparable to what >> we already have at Bemis. >> >> Please join me in rejecting the more expensive options 1 and 2 in order >> to redirect our efforts to take advantage of this moment in time to be far >> more creative, innovative and holistic in how we design and fund a >> Community Center that can also help transform Lincoln Station to its full >> potential as a truly vital, walkable village center. Remember, >> >> we humans *shape our environments* at a moment in time, >> and *then they shape us* for decades to come. >> >> Respectfully, >> Ken Hurd >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >> 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]. >> 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]. >> 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]. > 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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