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APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE SPECIAL TOWN MEETINGS 2017-2&3 OCTOBER 10,2017
<br /> When first opened, the Visitors Center was operated by the Chamber of Commerce. Since 2016, it has
<br /> been operated and staffed by the Town's Economic Development Office. Sales revenue from the gift shop,
<br /> $197,186 in FY2016,funds the Visitors Center's complete operating costs.Approximately 126,000 visitors
<br /> entered the building in 2016.
<br /> In October 2011, a new Visitors Center was added to the Town's five-year capital plan. A programmatic
<br /> report was produced in 2012, and then revised in 2013. At the 2014 Annual Town Meeting, $220,608 was
<br /> appropriated for design development. The plan at that time was to renovate or rebuild the existing Visitors
<br /> Center building to include space for visitor education, tour groups, a self-service kiosk, counter space for
<br /> assisting visitors,a veterans' display with visual connection to exterior memorials,retail space,food vend-
<br /> ing area,new rest rooms, and office space as well as community meeting space.
<br /> Mills Whitaker Architects LLC was hired and guided the process further. In view of the condition of the
<br /> old building, of the new programmatic needs, and of conceptual plans provided by Mills Whitaker in 2015,
<br /> stakeholders and the Selectmen decided to pursue construction of a new building rather than renovation.
<br /> An article for the construction of a new Visitor Center was included in the 2016 Annual Town Meeting
<br /> Warrant but was indefinitely postponed.In June 2016,Mills Whitaker provided to the Selectmen a revised
<br /> estimate of the sum of design and construction costs for a new building of$4,063,675. In view of the high
<br /> cost, the Selectmen declined a request by the Tourism Committee to include an article in the Warrant for
<br /> the 2017 Town Meeting seeking an appropriation for 25% design funding. The Tourism Committee then
<br /> placed a citizen article on the Warrant. That article, Article 18, seeking appropriation of$21,000 to add to
<br /> the $130,000 remaining from prior appropriations for additional schematic design funds, was approved.
<br /> The resulting plan,made available via a report presented to the Permanent Building Committee on Septem-
<br /> ber 4,2017, is Mills Whitaker's attempt to address the shortcomings of the prior design.
<br /> The redesign work was based on a review of programmatic goals and feedback obtained through a series
<br /> of meetings among the Tourism and Permanent Building Committees, staff, and community stakeholders.
<br /> This review resulted in a concept for a building smaller than that originally proposed but one that is larger
<br /> than currently exists. The additional space would provide for a better functioning building having adequate
<br /> space for visitor interaction with the information desk,historic displays,retail area, and restrooms.
<br /> In addition to further refinement of the schematic design, value engineering of the project continues to
<br /> address the concerns voiced about the project cost. Currently $202,000 of cost reductions have been iden-
<br /> tified; those savings are reflected in the $4,315,000 estimated cost. It is projected that additional value
<br /> engineering could yield another$300,000 or more in cost reductions.Currently$30,000 of the appropriated
<br /> Schematic Design money remains unspent.
<br /> The Tourism Committee is in the process of identifying funding sources besides the tax levy. They are
<br /> examining creation of a revenue stream of approximately $16,000 by adding a small surcharge on the sale
<br /> of Liberty Ride tickets. They are looking at the qualifications required to obtain a one-time $300,000 grant
<br /> from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, as well as other state and federal grants. Additionally,it may be
<br /> possible to request funding under the Community Preservation Act for items such as the restoration and
<br /> display of current historical artifacts,including the diorama and USS Lexington memorabilia; the creation
<br /> of new historical displays; and exterior site work which is covered by the Battle Green Master Plan ap-
<br /> proved by the Board of Selectmen in March 2011.
<br /> The Tourism Committee and Economic Development Office operate the Visitors Center and the Liberty
<br /> Ride, and conduct marketing efforts, and the revenues of these activities cover expenses. Their"Linger In
<br /> Lexington" campaign has encouraged tour buses to spend more time in Lexington, and Center businesses
<br /> have experienced increased tourist foot traffic and business over the past five years.
<br /> As one justification for investing in this project,the Tourism Committee has noted that hotel and meals tax
<br /> collections since FY2011 have totaled $8,702,054. Total collections have experienced annual growth in
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