The Senior Center Exploratory Committee would like to take the opportunity to update the community on the progress of the evaluation of sites for the construction of a new senior center. The SCEC was created by the Board of Selectmen to make recommendations to the selectmen on the appropriate location, size and design, projected cost and other matters related to the construction of a new facility to house our existing senior center.
The committee actively explored the types of senior centers that are provided in communities across the commonwealth, and members have toured numerous centers. The committee has also evaluated the pros/cons of all available town-owned land, and explored opportunities for purchase of private property, issuing two requests for proposals for property acquisition. The committee distributed and analyzed a community survey document, held three public hearings and testified at a public hearing conducted by the Board of Selectmen.
Last fall, the SCEC determined that it had progressed to a point in its evaluation of potential sites where funding for professional-level analysis and recommendation was required. At the Nov. 2 Special Town Meeting, the town appropriated approximately $49,091 for the purpose of conducting a feasibility study under the jurisdiction of the Permanent Public Building Committee.
At its meeting on Dec. 22, the Board of Selectmen voted to accept and approve the recommendations of the Senior Center Exploratory Committee for focused feasibility studies by the Permanent Public Building Committee with respect to Rosemary Hill; Greene’s Field, with or without inclusion of the Stephen Palmer site, provided that it be a consideration that utilization of the Stephen Palmer site would have no material negative impact on the timeline; and Ridge Hill. The Board of Selectmen also voted to consider any further recommendations by the SCEC for other sites that may be identified through an Request for Proposals process, although neither of the solicitations resulted in a response.
The board voted to designate SCEC Co-Chairwoman Denise Garlick and Council on Aging Board member Colleen Schaller to serve as the “User Agency Representatives” on the Permanent Public Building Committee for the feasibility study. The Building Committee selected the services of a design firm — Bargman, Hendrie + Archetype, to conduct the study. BH+A is in the process of researching legal and zoning restrictions; topographical and environmental challenges; traffic, congestion and site access concerns; availability of utilities; adjacencies; and other site data criteria.
The SCEC has continued to meet to follow the progress of the designer and the Building Committee, and to offer feedback during the process.
The SCEC remains committed to achieving community consensus on the preferred option for construction of the new senior center in time for an appropriation for design funds at the November Special Town Meeting. BH+A will make a presentation to the Building Committee at a special meeting for that purpose in late April., at the Needham Public Library in the Community Room.
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