Thank you for the clarification, Margaret. Lynne Smith 5 Tabor Hill Road Lincoln, MA 01773 cell: 781-258-1175 ly...@smith.net
> On Dec 1, 2023, at 11:52 AM, Margaret Olson <s...@margaretolson.com> 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 <ly...@smith.net > <mailto:ly...@smith.net>> 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 > ly...@smith.net <mailto:ly...@smith.net> > > > >> On Dec 1, 2023, at 8:53 AM, Jane Appell <jappell...@gmail.com >> <mailto:jappell...@gmail.com>> 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 <kenh...@keha.com >>> <mailto:kenh...@keha.com>> 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 Lincoln@lincolntalk.org >>> <mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. >>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ >>> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/>. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln >>> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln>. >>> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org >> <mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ >> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/>. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln >> <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln>. > > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org > <mailto:Lincoln@lincolntalk.org>. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/>. > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln > <https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln>. >
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