The amount of finished interior space is a major driver of the cost of the proposed community center. There are some who believe that even the bloated 2018 proposal is not large enough. That design included yet another lecture hall (Bemis, the Learning Commons and the Brooks auditorium are not enough for a town of this size?), a sound recording studio, an appliance fix-it shop, and facilities for cooking classes.
In May, 2023, ICON architects presented the CCBC with a trimmed down space proposal of 13,000 sq ft (not including space for the Lincoln school maintenance needs or for LEAP). This a 10,000 sq ft reduction from the 2018 proposal, and was achieved by removing some of the obvious excesses of that earlier proposal. In its communications, the CCBC proudly states how big a reduction they have achieved with this proposal. This was a good start, but it was an easy first step. The CCBC has never deliberated over key aspects of that proposal, and instead continues to use it as a benchmark, claiming that it represents what Lincoln needs. The CCBC has pointed out how much each of the three options falls short of the 13,000 sq ft proposal and in doing so, they seem to have convinced some people that the proposals do not allow the town to offer the set of PRD and COA/HS programs currently offered, let alone account for future growth. I have repeatedly asked the CCBC to discuss the assumptions leading to the 13,000 sq ft proposal at public meetings. They discussed and voted to accept capacity numbers for various programs (many of which are quite large compared to one-time peak, let alone average attendance—ie, these numbers have lots of growth built into them). These capacity numbers drive the size of various program spaces. But the CCBC did not review the programming schedule matrix which leads to utilization figures which in turn leads to the type and number of program spaces to be built, nor the size and type of administrative spaces. They did not explore the pros and cons of holding some programs at Bemis or Pierce instead of providing space for them in the community center. When I questioned some of those aspects at multiple meetings, ICON responded that “this is what is needed” and there was no further discussion. I urge you to carefully examine the assumptions behind the 13,000 sq ft proposal, which are presented in the document that ICON submitted. Those assumptions build in a huge amount of growth in program attendance and offerings. You can find that 5/31/23 document here <https://lincolncommunitycenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2023-05-31-Lincoln-CCBC-Public-Presentation-after-feedback.pdf> as posted on the CCBC web site. Study the material, ask questions of the CCBC and come to your own conclusions. Here are some points to explore: 1. ICON architects have said that they target utilization of program spaces to be in the 60-70% range. They said that this utilization strikes a balance between not having underutilized space, while still providing capacity for new programs to be added to the schedule for the various rooms. The utilization numbers in the 5/31 document, which the CCBC did not explore, are grossly overstated: a) The utilization % were based on how many hours a space is used out of a 40 hour 9-5 week. However, many programs are offered in the evening hours. Taking this into account corrects the distorted utilization figures of 96% shown for multipurpose room 2, for example. b) Many programs are not held every week, but the utilization numbers count them as if they were offered every week (examples: Men’s coffee & coffee with a select occurs 1x/month for each, foreign language groups occur 2x/month,ukulele occurs 1x/month, memoirs occurs 1x/month, some support groups meet 1x/mo, some 2x/mo, special events are listed as 1-2x/mo). To be representative of reality, the utilization numbers should be based on a full month, to account for non-weekly uses. c) Correct utilization numbers would come in well below the 60-70% target, meaning there is plenty of room for adding programs or second sections of oversubscribed programs. Remember that ICON said that at 70% you still could fit new things in. 2. The utilization numbers assume that senior dining (for 50 people!) is expanded to accommodate that number of people 3x/week, although the long-running program has been offered 1x/week, to much smaller numbers. Again, lots of growth assumed. 3. The utilization figures assume that programs that could plausibly be conducted at Pierce House or Bemis first floor meeting room (such as mahjong, bridge, chess, language groups) are scheduled to be held in the community center. The CCBC has not explored the pros and cons of such possibilities. At CCBC meetings, various members have made statements such as “holding such programs offsite is a myth because the offsite spaces are already at capacity.” Not true. It has also been said that holding such programs offsite would require extra staff time-to go to the remote site. That does not pass the common sense test. Just have a regular attendee of a particular offsite program take attendance and bring the mahjong tiles, chess pieces, etc. 4. The size and number of administrative spaces has not been deliberated. For example, the CCBC never explored what PRD operations might be like if they did not get a dedicated conference room capable of accommodating 20 people and instead held their meetings in other spaces in the community center or at town offices in rooms that are typically unused during the daytime, as most town board meetings are in the evening. Or why we need a dedicated reception area for COA and another for PRD beyond providing a building lobby. Can some part-time COA staff share offices instead of having a dedicated space? The bottom line: there is lots of assumed growth plus some fat in the 13,000 foot proposal. It is inappropriate and misleading to say that any option that does not provide that amount of space falls short of meeting the town’s needs. Don't be misled into supporting a too-large for our needs new building. Dennis Picker, Page Road
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