HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-07-01-SBFRC-min Ad Hoc Stone Building Feasibility/Reuse Committee (SBFRC)
Town of Lexington, MA
RECEIVED
MEETING MINUTES 2021 29 �� ', 1�5 1pii7"i
TOWN CLERK
July 1, 2021 • 8:00am LEXINGTON MA
Attending: Jaclyn Anderson, Cristina Burwell, Jeff Howry, Carolyn Goldstein, Doug Lucente
(Select Board Liaison), Melinda Nasardinov, Lester Savage
Absent: Claire Feingold Thoryn (Cary Library Trustees Liaison), Anne Grady, Mark Manasas,
Meg Muckenhoupt (Appropriations Comm. Liaison), Paul Smyke
Community Observers: Elaine Ashton
Recording Secretary: Cristina Burwell
This meeting was held in the Estabrook Room of Cary Hall, as well as hosted online, and
began at 8:09am. The minutes were approved as motioned by Carolyn, seconded by Melinda,
and approved by all. There were no public comments at this time.
The meeting began with a brief discussion about how committee members have internalized
"what success might look like" after listening to public comments, and merging that with their
own thoughts (including potential users, programming, and revenue). Some member
observations included:
• The SB can be an institution for both Lexingtonians as well as neighboring towns via
its proximity to the bike path. Access to the play area directly off the bike path en route
to the SB, with the potential to have public restrooms would be a draw.
• It would be nice to have foot traffic for one purpose with the secondary purpose of
interacting with the building to grow appreciation of its, and related, history.
• Our considerations are multifunctional: building occupancy that makes the most use of
the space, programming that benefits the community, and budgeting that provides for
ongoing maintenance of the building.
• Whatever entity takes control must have an endowment (also discussed, that this is
not the case with similar examples).
• Interest in having the building open to multiple users for a variety of programming, and
that we will need to perhaps frame the programming a bit better so that appropriate
groups can be selected.
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• Interest in enhancing the historic quality of the building with 21st century dynamism of
uses to provide a real change.
• We want people to come multiple times, not a visit once and done. Concern raised that
we ensure there is not a limited audience.
• People would like a destination to go without having to buy something (like a food
destination); something that has a purpose
• Interest in having the SB be a destination to meet with others to congregate and learn,
such as with a focus on social justice
• Interest in having this fit into the best of what we already offer, such as learning about
the various Lexington walking trails
• If partnerships are the core of the building usage, there will need to be a lead partner
to take on the responsibility of building management.
• No interest in the SB just being a satellite meeting space
• Interest in innovative programming ideas for the building's foundation
• Users will want to be confident that they have reliable access to restrooms, parking -
and we will need to accommodate people who want to get there
The full SBFRC met yesterday to review outlined criteria to be used in evaluating building
reuse concepts. It was decided that, following receipt of updated criteria spreadsheet,
responses to rankings should be sent back to Mark by the following Friday, July 9. This will
allow him to process the information and have it available for the next committee meeting.
Melinda referenced the Community Needs Assessment that the group should further explore
regarding the intersection of expressed needs with Stone Building services.
Jeff proposed sending the public a ....
,�,a�,irn, ,l u,�.i.L '„ii„irn„g �;Iir„a�„p,a�, , ,�.that would provide the
committee with more focused detail about how the space might be used, etc (designed to be
for information gathering and not as a RFP). The committee liked this idea but wanted to
make changes to what information is gathered. It was decided that changes should be
received by Jeff by the following Friday, July 9. Carolyn volunteered to work with Jeff in
providing a brief precis to begin the document. One item that was discussed was the
committee's identification of perhaps needing a lead organization to run the building and/or
groups that want to partner with that organization (akin to how the Lexington Friends of the
Arts manages the Munroe Center for the Arts).
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It was suggested that these proposals are to be received back to the committee between the
second and third forums.
Doug indicated that the demand is still questionable, and that the Select Board will be
Looking to fully understand why the Town should put in effort and funds in restoring the
building.
Members of the committee were concerned about not being ready for a second forum by the
end of July. Given this concern and summer vacation schedules of committee members,
Thursday, August 19 was put forth for the next forum.
As the committee had already gone its 75 minutes, Old Business items (of a proposed table
of contents for the final report, and outreach group List) will be shared with the group offline,
discussed at the following meeting, and included in those minutes.
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 as motioned by Carolyn, seconded by Les, and approved by
a LL.
References
F"reservadon as a Freatirnent (JH)
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...............et of � fistoijc Structures (JH)
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