| Ken, et al., Could not agree more, and said as much the last time the project was taking on steam. It’s precisely what the town needs as an inter-generational hub, gathering spot, place for special events be they exhibits, lectures, films, etc. It’s the only place anyone in town of any age currently and consistently goes, whether it’s kids after school for a snack, or to meet a friend for coffee, grab groceries, your dry cleaning or mail a package. Outdoor gathering space and parking already exist, so for my money, which like yours, if approved, will be spent, Lincoln Station makes perfect sense. Kathryn Corbin Sent from my iPhone Please excuse any typos, (which I declare are the exclusive fault of auto spell-check!) On Nov 26, 2022, at 8:38 AM, Andy Wang <andyrw...@gmail.com> wrote:
In the discussion above, I'm unclear if folks are advocating for a community center (both COA and Parks & Rec) or a senior center (and keep Parks & Rec in the pods) in the spaces around Lincoln Station. But just some additional food for thought, on the Parks and Rec side, I believe that it was viewed as important to keep spaces accessible to the school campus. With the programs for kids, it is convenient for kids to be able to get to those programs easily. Not all kids are old enough to walk over by themselves. LEAP also takes several of its kids over to the programs that parents sign up for and pick them up that may not be right after school.
- Andy
Excellent statement, Ken! I hope that the proposal to change gears and consider a community center at Lincoln Station gains some traction. I would vote in favor of allocating funds to study this option. After reading the many comments
and thinking carefully about the issues, I would not vote in favor of allocating funds directed only toward the Hartwell proposals. I can’t remember, ten years ago, what led to the choice of this location. For all the reasons expressed by you and a few others,
I believe that this choice, although well-intentioned, was misguided. Let’s put the community center in the center of our community – accessible by foot or bike by many, and for those using their cars, adjacent to other essential services (groceries, post
office, etc.)
June Matthews
Greenridge Lane
I wish to applaud all those who have taken the time to revisit and question the financial pros and cons of building a community center at this time, and thanks particularly to those who have recently commented on the advisability of building
it at the Hartwell site.
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.
In my opinion, it would constitute the classic suburban planning error to create a new center that stands alone 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, etc.?
If the vote for more funding fails at the Special Town Meeting next Wednesday evening, November 30th, I urge residents, the Selects and the Planning Board to seriously reconsider Lincoln Station as the location that would best serve the
interests and greater good of the town going forward.
Thank you for all those who have weighed in on this discussion.
Lifting the Human Spirit by Design
781-259-3300
781-259-8900 cell
www.keha.com
I just skimmed over the 2015 report which is the foundation for what
we are discussing.
That report tried to steer people away from the Lincoln Station area.
One of the six options was to build on the commuter rail parking lot
and include an underground parking garage (the most expensive kind of
parking) to make up for lost parking. Since then COVID killed
commuter rail. The parking lot is just another town-owned vacant lot.
When you take the cost of an underground garage out of the picture,
the commuter rail parking lot becomes the cheapest building site (in
2015 dollars, and including the cost of renovating Hartwell facilities
that don't move). It has the advantage of being near shops, Codman,
and Lincoln Woods. We might end up with a community center rather
than a place one drives to and drives home from.
On Fri, Nov 25, 2022 at 10:16 AM Margaret P Flint
<margaretpfl...@gmail.com> wrote:
How about this idea for the Community Center: the building at the Mall at Lincoln Station now occupied by Something Special and Lincoln Dog Training.
Several things in its favor:
-It is across the street from Ryan Estates Greenridge, and adjacent to Lincoln Woods.
-There are two restaurants adjacent which would eliminate the need for a food preparation area, a significant cost.
-Also, there is a grocery store right there, which would allow users to double up on car trips.
-There is ample parking.
There are two downsides that I can think of. I’m sure there are more.
- Something Special would need to move. But I see a for rent sign across the street. Perhaps the cost of moving Something Special could be built into the cost of renovating for a Community Center. The dog training facility is also there,
but it is my understanding that most of that work takes place outside the building.
-The Rural Land Foundation would lose rent revenue.
Thoughts?
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