Officials: No Alternative to Ward Park for Senior Center
With a new $7 million senior center slated to go into Ward Park, officials revealed there are no alternate locations at this time and that expansion space will be built into the design.
With no alternative site, designers of a new senior center will be working with what they have at Ward Park and building expansion into the proposed 14,000 square foot center.
“There is not an alternative site at this point," said Public Facilities Director John Ghiloni, who will be chairing the Senior Center Building Committee. “There is nothing to say it couldn’t end up at another location at the park.”
The current location picked for the center at Ward Park on the edge of the park is tight, said Joseph Rizza from Courtstreet Architects that will be leading the design at the New Senior Center Advisory Committee Thursday. There is no room for expansion around the proposed 14,000 square foot senior center so an additional 7,000 or more square feet will be built into a second floor, he said.
“Probably for the size of your community you will need more space," said Rizza who explained the 14,000 square feet is at the low end of what the community needs but additional space above could solve the problem in the future. “It’s easy to expand in the future if you need to and it’s not going to take a big budget."
The initial build out would include a fully furnished 14,000 square foot first floor. Built above would be a nearly finished space. Covering roughly 50 percent of the first floor, to leave room for a community room with a high ceiling, this space could be heated and cooled with walls and paint. The space would have stairwells and possibly elevator shafts leading up to it, said Rizza, so the cost of opening it up to use would be less expensive.
“To move in you essentially define what is going up there and put in some furniture and move in," said Rizza. “It would be a 50 percent addition in the future ... that would certainly get you into what the office of elder affairs recommend for seniors."
Expansion space is important to build in to the design, said Ghiloni who said the budget of the project needs to be taken into consideration.
"I think we need room for expansion," he said.
Save Marlboro
7:17 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
What part of NO do our "officials" not understand. The CITIZENS of Marlboro do not want this built...we want OUR park. Do you think we are that stupid and believe you when you say there are no other locations??? Really??? No other locations...in ALL of Marlboro??? Why don't you take a soccer field down at Ghiloni Park and build it there...there's even plenty of parking. It is beyond disgusting to me that these elected officials think they can just do this when there is overwhelming opposition to it...including a petition. I hope the mayor has back up employment plans because I would bet come next election, City Hall will NOT be where he works.
Damon Michaels
7:36 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
What do they mean no other location? Really? In all of Marlborough there is not a parcel of land to build upon or a building to lease? REALLY?
John Buczek
8:13 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
If one were to stop and smell the roses or read the plaques at the entrance of Ward Park, one would realize the the park is and always was intended for the youth of Marlborough for there reads
"The Artemas Ward Park" "
Of about twenty acres mostly within the bounds of WILLIAM WARDS original house lot" "Acquired by the City of Marlborough and dedicated to the BETTER DEVELOPMENT OF ITS YOUTH"
November 11, 1925
"Committee James M. Hurley - Mayor and the City Council of 1925 Harrison E. Brigham Pres."
So what part of this dedicated area doesn't the Mayor and Council understand? There may be a "legal" battle here.
Paul Brodeur provides a great slide show on the park it can be found on line here http://www.slideshare.net/pebrodeur/the-history-of-artemas-ward-park-the-marlborough-historical-society
Barb Nahoumi
8:24 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
There are many vacant buildings in Marlboro which can be purchased and renovated for a senior center. The former auto dealership on Maple St., St Anne's Church on Lincoln St., plus parcels of land for sale near the Northboro line.
There is no reason to build on Ward Park------none what so ever!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope that the mayor and city council read these comments.
Disappointed Resident
10:08 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
I thought this was proposed at 13,000 square feet. Now it's 14,000 square feet and admitting that there will be future need for expansion that we are to believe will be built up, instead of out. Who is to stop them when the space is outgrown from taking more of the park? I just hope that this is thought out fully before jumping in and building. I am also disappointed that the only way the city is willing to put money into the park is if they build the senior center there. I enjoyed that park in my youth and attended Bigelow School. I would like my kids to have the ability to enjoy it to.
Neil Licht
12:59 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
OK so we will get a half finished center that requires a future build out? We all know that future build out means no funding to do so and it never happens!!
Northborough is exceedingly functional on one level. Why are we being so stubborn on that cite if can not meet needs as built? Whats the reasoning behind a new build that can not meet the needs unless we spend more later on to complete the 2nd floor. And elevator-Its mandatory for seniors use so why is ikt even a question of maybe build it.
I'm not criticizing the chosen site, I'm wondering, Why even bother to build this then if its obsoleted as a long term usable facility even before its built???
Anyone else wondering that same thing?
Remember, this is a center not a senior housing space that our entire community will use or could use. Spending cash wisely means get it right the first time doesn't it?
Chrissy
4:10 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
Below is a list of sites presented in the 2002 Marlborough Senior Center Feasibility Study - ranked in order of preference by the architects. [T=tied] Note that some of these sites are no longer available, however I left the list in full to demonstrate missed opportunities as this study sat on a shelf for 10 years. I challenge the City to revisit this list with an open mind, and an open wallet. Not everything is free, nor does free equal best. The matrix can be found on page 62 of the study, which was obtained at City Hall.
#1 - Jackson Farm, Williams Street
#2 - Bolton Street /Hudson Street, South side
#3 - Estabrook's Tree Farm
#4 - Bolton Street / Hudson Street, Bus Barn / Landfill
#T5 - Former Big D, Lincoln Street
#T5 - Johnson-Claflin Company, Lincoln Street
#T7 - Existing Senior Center, Main Street
#T7 - McGee Veterinary Hospital, 339 Boston Post Road
#T7 - City Property adjacent to Navin Rink, Bolton Street
#10 - Bigelow School, Orchard Street
#11 - Central Fire Station, Main Street
#T12 - Gutierrez Property, Elm Street
#T12 - Walker Property, Framingham Road
#T12 - 386 Farm Road
#15 - 279 South Street
Donna J.
10:48 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
I do not want them to build something that they know does not fit the current need and fully know it will need an addition put on. They currently have a center that doesn't fil their need, do we really need a new one that doesn't fit the need. Also why aren't they considering the rec hall area at Jericho Hill on Brigham St? The rec department only uses it for project summer adventure camp in the summer and that program could be easily moved to ghiloni park. Plenty of space to build and add parking to
I believe the seniors have out grown their current space. Just saying if they are not going to do it right the first time, then don't do it at all. Don't waste our money.
resident
3:44 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
They have to say no alternatives exist. It's the first requirement of a state agency's policy in order to build on protected park land. Quote - "All other options...have been explored and no feasible and substantially equivalent alternatives exist (monetary considerations notwithstanding)."