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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-12-09-SBFRC-min RECEIVED Stone Building Committee 9 December Jain,, 10A ° 2021 Minutes TOWN C1,,E 1-1EXHqGTON MA These minutes capture the 9 December 2021 Stone Building Feasibility Re-use Committee discussing visions for combining use concepts in the Stone Building Video is uploaded to YouTube here: !,gyp, ,;,Zzy, ,utu�,be/3G ,� , a, ,f , Committee members present: Cristina Burwell, Jeff Howry, Jaclyn Anderson, Carolyn Goldstein, Anne Grady, Melinda Nasardinov, Lester Savage, Meg Muckenhoupt, Doug Lucente (left early), Paul Smyke Qoined late) Committee members absent: Suzie Barry Community attendees: Elaine Ashton, Kathleen Dalton, Sabine Clark, Janel Showalter, Rosemary Trowbridge Meeting began with reading of the remote Open Meeting Law statement and presentation of the a2,uTu, u„u a, a, p,cep 1 slide deck. Minutes from18 November were unanimously approved by the Committee, as motioned by Melinda and seconded by Anne. 7:17 Started with presentation 15:43 Completed presentation of slide deck 16:43 Kathleen Dalton introduce the Stone Building Advocates for Telling Our History groups Other members of this group introduced themselves 18:46 Mark M - how does a museum promote a building that is alive? What makes this a place that the community will want to return to on a regular basis and make the building Alive? Cristina: Museum portion as an extension of education. Wants to see a comfortable space as you enter the building, an inviting space that people will want to linger in. Upstairs space for more of an events space. Meg(22): Original deed says belong to inhabits of the town of lexington "for their own behoof' & forever- in summary building should benefit primarily the people of Lexington Anne: Left hand side for rooms for conferences and offices? Right hand side is the sunny side, which could be a place for people to sit and gather in comfortable chairs, in front of a fireplace. Meg: Likes Anne's idea of an open space. Building was built with small rooms historically to help benefit heat control. In modern buildings there are other ways to distribute heat. Lester(26): Sees the Lyceum concept as the leading concept which can tie the other ideas of a museum and social justice center together. Lyceum will be a great way to promote the historical aspects of the museum concepts we have previously mentioned. Cristina(26:45): Open rooms for gathering is a way to promote intercultural connectedness. Having quiet and non-quiet spaces is important. Exhibits should be rotating so that you could go again and again without being stagnant. Rooms shouldn't be designated as part of the museum, the museum should be around the periphery. Jaclyn read some of the Chat comments (see below) Revolving exhibits and shows that people come to more than once 28:30 Doug heading out Mark- Concerned that an Intercultural center where various groups CAAL, LexSeeHer, LexPride, etc had "standing office space" isn't the best fit for the building. How does Intercultural center that accommodates these groups fit into the space available: Jeff- View the space as a 21st Century Lyceum.All the ideas we have discussed could fit on the first floor (e.g. self guided museum & mingling spaces) and 2nd floor represents a Lyceum in a more formal way (lectures) "Many people talking to a lot of people" The original purpose of the building, built as a Lyceum accommodates many of the ideas we are looking at today. Meg: Wants us to not be so concerned that the building has to be used in a unique way. Elementary schools are not unique. We don't need to come up with a completely new way to use this building. Mark: Believes the critical comments about finding unique needs for the building stems from a fiduciary responsibility. "Why would we spend a lot of money on this building when other buildings exist that could do the same thing" Mark(33:45): Supports the concept of a 21 st Century Lyceum as the umbrella concept for the building, incorporating the museum aspect. The name of the concept will be extremely important as part of the story. Anne: Two rooms behind Lyceum hall could be dedicated to permanently house community organizations? Cristina: If rooms are dedicated to community groups, would recommend that there should be some monetary contribution / rent involved. 38:00 Discussion of how the Lyceum was originally laid out showing many images Melinda(41:15): Reviewing museum focus group discussions; objects would add an additional layer of fire suppression and climate control needs. 3D exhibits add more issues. Exhibit designers may be pressed towards 2d /flat/wall mounted displays to maximize use of the space. Museums function as inter-cultural spaces which depends on exhibits, programming, etc. based on the direction the museum wants to explore. Current MFA Quilt exhibit (,F. bri..c of a. on......,,;;,,,, ,.; ;.2; ,,,,,, ,�a ,,,,, ,�afies) is a great example of a modern approach to interpreting historic and contemporary material. Spaces for people to interact with each other and the materials. (This is however, an object based exhibit). Jeff(45:30): Over 20 archival boxes of history of Eli Robbins exist. Ellen Stone divided up artifacts, donated a lot of material to MFA, some to Peabody Essex. Borrowing from these places could be an option. Carolyn(47:20): Dilemma of what we mean by museum. Existence of objects is exciting but they would need to be protected in a museum type environment. While excited by the objects she does not believe a full-blown museum is a good fit for the building. Needs a contemporary/ lively/changing feel to the exhibits. Sweet spot will be in the "3rd space function" and interpretive displays. Meg() Lexington Heritage Center/ Lex Historical society struggled with the conflict between protection of artifacts and access by the public. Jaclyn read chat items(see below) (50:45): many concepts can co-exist. Showcasing of historical context issues. Place for community conversations w/ Lyceums. Lexington has a unique opportunity to bring back a Lyceum in this place. Anne: Reiterated the issue of climate control in the building being very important for housing objects Meg: Some improvements to building envelope will be needed regardless, but should be manageable. Jeff: Climate control technologies can be incorporated discreetly, should not be an issue. Concepts of"museum without walls" Mentions Kendrik site in Newton. Potential for a 3D virtual space. Mark(57): How could the library be involved? Kathleen: Library has been very important to SBA-TOH group. Excellent at multi-cultural Sean Osborne very excited by help from Library found involvement from Lexington people with 54th regiment. Mark: Library is a great resource but doesn't see the library as stepping up to manage this space. Cristina: Could be a free "pop-up" type library circulating without any staffing needs. How could library of things be incorporated? Re-iterates that someone needs to hold the key and make sure the building is safe and secure. Someone will need to be onsite every time teh building is open. Carolyn(1:02): Does not see this location as a branch library. Likes the free library concept, could balloon to book sale level. We don't need a branch library to incorporate the features people like about libraries. Place that people can sit informally and comfortably to meet up & discuss ideas. Given the deed restrictions, does not see the future of the building moving forward without the Library as a partner. Re Meg's comments about Stone building having unique functions; library has high demand for the spaces it has. The Stone building can be used as a programming space along with Rec department and other town functions. Melinda(1:05:33): It's more than who just holds hte key. We present our vision as a committee, but the library continues to assess the needs of the community and respond. We need someone who is committed to making this a successful vendor. We can't just "wind it up and let it go". It needs someone to take responsibility and doesn't think the Library has the desire or capacity to do this. Was hoping Rec department and library might come together, but it seems that this would only add to their responsibilities Janel(1:07:27): This is an opportunity to bring together a lot of groups, various groups in Town could give something to this building to work together cooperatively. Has been amazed at the info that is not shared anywhere. Great opportunity to tell the people of Lexington the untold stories of the Town. Opportunities to have events that would bring people to the building constantly. Working with schools to tie into the school curriculum. Community groups could help develop modern interpretation of various topics. Mark(1:11:20): Is there any vision other than a non-profit leading this? It needs a non-profit to be able to sign contracts, raise and manage money. Some group needs to step forward and be the champion. Meg(1:13:10): Stone building needs to be for the "behoof' of Lexington. How do the concepts we're discussing benefit populations which are newer to Lexington? Need to make sure any concepts we recommend include and attract these communities. Kathleen(1:14:45): Responding to Meg: One exhibit that has been discussed is "the immigrant experience". Julia Robbins worked in Lowell during 2nd wave immigration. Many of people in Lex now are 3rd wave immigrants. This could be a great place to discuss past, present and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion. Invite these populations into the programming discussions. Re: how this becomes a reality - Town needs to commit, then there needs to be a program committee. Dawn McKenna and Carol Ward have discussed Stone Building & they would like to build a coalition. Kathleen questioned which organization gets organized to become 501(c)(3)? Committee needs to put forth the vision, but who does SBFRC want to lead a coalition? Cristina(1:18:57): Grew up in Gettysburg. History does not make a building alive. Won't get a lot of people coming to the building just because we have interesting exhibits. Need to think about how to engage people in an alive space. Give people an opportunity to engage there on a regular basis. Carolyn: Agrees with Cristina. Thinks we're landing on a place for historic interpretation and engaged community conversation. Re: who leads this, Carolyn believes we should look at coalition / partnership models in other towns that could provide us a roadmap. Important that SBFRC hears that there is interest throughout the Town, e.g. Toursim committee. Feels committee needs to recommend that the Town plays a leadership roll. SBFRC should suggest a creative vision for connecting past and present, historical displays, dynamic community space. Mark(1:23:00): Town committees so hamstrung with Open Meeting Law. Our output is "Building is worth saving. 2) Here is our vision we have heard from the community 3) there is community excitement and 4) Once the building is restored here is how we think these things could be funded. A Town committee is not going to be efficient enough to move this process. Jaclyn(1:25:26): Needs to split into subcommittees into building restoration and another group on the programmatic side. Programming is sometimes interrupted by building restoration discussions and vice versa. Would be good if these two tasks could move forward independently. Melinda: Doesn't want to rule out Town involvement/ Dawn McKenna/Tourism committee involvement. Jeff(1:27:15): The building needs a champion and the Town has too many other things going on to deal with Stone Building. Thinks the model has been proved elsewhere, we are repeating these findings. The model is a non-profit. Towns donate, sell, or lease a building to a non-profit entity. Entity benefits due to CPA funding, but the nonprofit manages maintenance, programming, etc. Thinks we have a vision, we need to articulate the vision. Need to present feasibility in a financial way. Sabi ne(1:31:30): Is there a reason Town can't lean on historical society to lead this? Jeff: Historical society doesn't have the bandwidth. Lester: As a board member of the Historical Society they love the building, but they don't have the bandwidth and can't take financial responsibility for it. They are independent of the Town. Marko: Issue with all the current non-profits is that you would need them to become the home for championing the building. If we could find one willing to do this, then super. But doubts there is a non-profit that will take this on. Cristina: Speaking from experience at Munroe, she wouldn't want to take it on because it isn't clear on how the spaces lend themself to be rented out. Mark: Grant money is likely to be a large part of the funding future for the non-profit. Lester(1:36:15): Thinks there needs to be a single entity to "hold the keys". Jeff: Thinks one of our recommendations and conclusions is that a non-profit should be formed to take responsibility for the building. Mark: It's the champions that will make this move forward Jaclyn: Believes there are a lot of champions to support this, but we need to finalize the vision to mobilize these champions Janel: Mentioned the National Center of Afro-American Artists in Boston was founded as a partnership with the MFA. If there was a non-profit with a commitment from other organizations in town that would help get this off the ground. Could use efficiency or our existing structure to get things off the ground. As we progress we could reach out to other organizations to progress Paul Joins - 1:41:20: Believes in the notion that some type of non-profit would need to be formed.Asks for a summary of the Vision. Jaclyn responds that we haven't created the vision yet. Paul is concerned that"another little museum" doesn't help pay the bills. Pushes for a broad vision that helps promote civil dialogue within and outside Lexington given the unique role that Lexington plays. Would like to see global broadcasts of sessions that occur in the building. Rental income is likely to be pretty low. Is there scope to marry the urgent need in society for civil discourse drawing on the history of the building. Cristina asks for elaboration. Paul suggests private small group conversations on immigration, breakdown of society, etc. No shortage of topics. Cristina: how does the building fill that need? Paul - 50/60 people in the upper Lyceum hall, tap into WBUR, WGBH, etc. - could make for a good story. Can't see raising money for a "teen center' or a place for intercultural groups to meet. Mark(1:47:45): Posits the Vision for the building as a 21st Century Lyceum. The building was built as a place for open discussion. The topics of today are racial, social, environmental justice, etc. In the future other topics might be more important. The Lyceum offers a format for discussion of the topics of today in a historical context. Cristina volunteers to collect new Dream /Vision statements summarizing what we heard today. This is an action item for all. Carolyn - How dreamy do we want our statements to be? Mark- Think of these as an elevator pitch. Why would people in the Town support renovation of the Stone building? What are the one or two paragraphs that convey our beliefs? Carolyn - Suggest committee members state which ideas are resonating with the committee members. Recommends getting into the specifics, being concrete about the uses. Cristina requests that we put photos which were shown in the meeting in an accessible location. Mark will re-mail the images. Can also post to the SBFRC web page. Melinda: Wants to get something over to the Select Board about timeline, suggests using next meeting. Melinda suggests thinking about what we write getting incorporated into a final report. Mark asks if anyone is willing to write an executive summary for the final report. Suggests we discuss at the next meeting. Cristina/Jeff didn't feel that we were ready to do this. Carolyn suggests for the next meeting we keep the thread of this meeting going after we have read each other's thoughts. Would like to keep this conversation going. Cristina is going to synthesize an agenda for the next meeting. Jeff suggests we need to discuss the feasibility portion. Meeting adjourned. Chat Text The following text is the output from the Chat function in Zoom. To sync the Chat timestamp with the video XXX GMT20211209-125352_Recordi ng.txt 00:03:25 Mark Manasas: Hello 00:14:36 Jeff Howry: 21 qqqqq [sic- accidentally hit keyboard?] 00:23:00 Melinda Nasardinov: We skipped Public Comments on the agenda. Will those be folded into the Business portion? 00:28:07 Ken and Sabine: Stone Building Advocates for Telling Our History 00:35:24 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): I really like Anne's idea. 00:35:32 Meg Muckenhoupt: Me too! 00:36:04 Elaine Ashton: I love the comfy chairs and fireplace idea! :) 00:36:21 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): The small rooms could work nicely for historical displays. 00:36:39 Meg Muckenhoupt: Yes, agreed Carolyn 00:37:44 Mark Manasas: How to integrate intercultural concept w/ Museum features? 00:37:59 Meg Muckenhoupt: Multiple spaces, multiple purposes 00:38:24 Meg Muckenhoupt: Left lower= exhibit space, right lower= community space, upstairs = lyceum (for example) 00:38:27 Melinda Nasardinov: Lyceum room offers opportunities for community groups 00:39:43 Sabine Clark: Agree with cozy ( fireplace area) and more public meeting lyceum space- we have evolving topic oriented revolving exhibits/shows people will come more than once 00:39:49 Sabine Clark: YEs Christina 00:39:55 Kathleen Dalton: The Library Space Anne mentions could invite students to work on their homework, elders to work on genealogy, and neighbors to stop by for coffee and conversation. 00:40:01 Doug Lucente - Select Board Vice Chair: I have to go to my next meeting. Good luck with all the great brainstorming! 00:41:52 Lester Savage: I agree with rotating exhibits on first floor. just as is done with the CVS windows by the Historical Society 00:43:02 Kathleen Dalton: The groups could have representation on a Stone Building Program Board and plan an event each month or two. 00:43:35 Janet Showalter: It seems that many of these concepts can co-exist. If the walls are used to share historical topics, the space can be used for meetings, presentations, workshops, etc. Also, whatever historical topic is being showcased can serve as a jumpoff point for presentations about more current but related issues sponsored by various town groups. 00:43:46 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): I think that we can conceive of the building as a place for Community Conversations that are inclusive of all Lexingtonians and provide opportunities for intercultural connections--but also connections across other commonalities, i.e. for people who don't necessarily relate to "cultural." 00:47:33 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): Several communities have lyceums today that are thriving. 00:48:56 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): I see the upstairs rooms as functioning better for community groups. 00:53:40 Janel Showalter: Concord, Gloucester, Framingham, etc. have very popular Lyceums but few are in the original buildings. Lexington has a unique opportunity to bring this use back in the original space and in a building designed in a style very specific to Lyceums. 00:56:09 Mark Manasas: I like the idea of a 2D museum, video screens, etc. 00:56:39 Sabine Clark: Can you repeat the name of the exhibit please 00:56:42 Mark Manasas: What "touchstone" 3d objects do exist? 00:57:24 Meg Muckenhoupt: Objects found in the Stone Building, or in general reflecting the Federalist era? 00:57:39 Meg Muckenhoupt: Or 19th century 00:58:35 Janet Showalter: Eli's fire bucket is at the Lexington Historical Society and the MFA has a large collection of Robbins clothing. 00:59:06 Melinda Nasardinov: Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories at the MFA 00:59:19 Kathleen Dalton: I'm working with a presidential museum and the museum exhibit designers are using a wide variety of methods, including holograms, films, hands on exhibits. They lack many objects, so it is possible to tell an exciting story without a complete reliance on objects. I agree that other institutions could loan Robbins objects. 01:00:21 Cristina: to have antiques we need to be able to protect them 01:00:52 Cristina: it is one thing to have volunteers to curate and program, another to ensure everything's safety 01:01:29 Kathleen Dalton: I think rotating exhibits rather than a traditional museum makes sense in this space. 01:01:45 Cristina: can we educate with art and visuals, with performances, and engaged volunteer groups creating social change? 01:02:15 Mark Manasas: Do we envision a heavily video based / interactive museum idea? 01:02:20 Melinda Nasardinov: I agree with everything Carolyn said. 01:03:28 Janet Showalter: Do the objects have to be originals?As Kathy mentions, there is the possibility of holograms. Clothing can be reproduced, as the LexSeeHer folks have done, using historical methods and the originals as models. Objects can also be incorporated on screens. 01:03:41 Cristina: oh the CVS exhibits - we need to do better! 01:04:14 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): Agree that CVS exhibits are a poor model for temporary displays we would ideally envision in the SB. 01:04:30 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): Janel--good point. Reproduction objects could work nicely. 01:05:22 Melinda Nasardinov: I think there must be some permanent interpretation of the building and its context. Other spaces could be rotating art/history/other exhibits. 01:05:45 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): Agree with Melinda above. 01:06:00 Cristina: holograms!! 0 01:06:17 Lester Savage: I agree with Melinda as well. 01:06:33 Cristina: also agree with melinda 01:07:02 Melinda Nasardinov: Climate control, fire suppression, security are all issues if there were to be original objects. We can get a sample load agreement to show the committee the requirements. 01:07:10 Lester Savage: upstairs is probably better suited to a permanent exhibit and first floor to rotating 01:07:44 Melinda Nasardinov: *loan agreement* 01:09:10 Cristina: virtual reality nights? 01:10:17 Melinda Nasardinov: If you are interested in learning more about the Robbins family objects at area institutions, search their object catalogs (MFA and Historic New England have large Robbins-family-related collections and are easy to search. See also the two articles I provided summaries of on the committee website. 01:16:50 Cristina: i think a unique combination, IS unique. 01:23:46 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): Thank you, Janet. 01:24:26 Cristina: hi paul! 01:24:38 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): Welcome, Paul! 01:25:06 Melinda Nasardinov: I agree all these ideas are terrific and I would love to see them happening, but we need to figure out how to make that happen. 01:25:39 Paul Smyke: Hi All! 01:26:32 Janet Showalter: Might these various organizations be waiting to see what this group is going to propose? It's difficult to spend the time and effort thinking about funding, etc. if you aren't sure a use of interest to your group will be put forward. 01:26:39 Lester Savage: i agree with Mark. If the library had wanted to do more than possibly provide some programming the building wouldn't be in this situation 01:27:07 Melinda Nasardinov: History should only be one aspect of the building's future. 01:33:56 Cristina: "partnership models" as a roadmap - carolyn, yes! I'm hoping that is what our case studies research should provide! 01:35:20 Meg Muckenhoupt: 100% Carolyn 01:36:00 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): I mean that a town staff person should lead a coalition to at least determine next steps. 01:36:39 Cristina: it will die right there ... 01:37:28 Lester Savage: agreed! 01:41:40 Janet Showalter: The National Center of Afro-American Artists in Boston was founded as a partnership with the MFA, a partnership that continues to this day. The NCAAA makes all the decisions but the MFA has provided support, mentorship, skills, etc. over the years as needed. Over time, the support has lessened as the NCAAA was able to staff up and gain the necessary skills itself. 01:41:50 Mark Manasas: I see no other way than non-profit with town involvement (board members like Cary Trustees?) 01:42:10 Elaine Ashton: I fully agree Mark 01:42:55 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): I have serious concerns about recommending that yet another non-profit organization be established in our town. We have so many already with missions that overlap strongly with the vision that is emerging for this building. 01:43:11 Mark Manasas: Maybe Dawn is a board member too with all of her knowledge? 01:47:51 Lester Savage: i think a new nonprofit with support from other town entities/ non profits 01:48:10 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): Les, can you elaborate on that? 01:51:32 Melinda Nasardinov: Do you think the restoration and programming could be handled by a board/committee or would it require a director? 01:53:59 Sabine Clark: Thanks Janet!! 01:57:08 Cristina: melinda - any board/committee would need a chair. leadership is critical, and someone will have to weigh in when things move in a direction-lacking way by board/comm. 01:57:56 Janet Showalter: A Lyceum, supported from subscriptions, could broadcast/record presentations. The Walden Foundation in Concord does something like this, including having presentations/discussions related to race relations, etc. 02:01:08 Cristina: subscriptions! with big name speakers akin to emerson. 02:01:32 Lester Savage: The Lyceum IS what is going to make the building work! I'm sorry. i have to leave. Todays conversation has been very productive 02:02:47 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): That is a great idea, Mark. I think it would be very helpful for all committee members to update their own visions for the SB. 02:03:16 Janel Showalter: By combining uses, as Mark mentions, you may broaden the funding possibilities. 02:03:36 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): I would encourage everyone to be as tangible as possible, i.e. less "dreamy" than a year ago. 02:04:25 Melinda Nasardinov: We might want start thinking toward the final report when writing our statements. 02:09:02 Cristina: for next meeting: timeline, any changes to charter to SB, report 02:09:34 Carolyn Goldstein (she/her): Agree that we are not ready for that. 02:10:57 Melinda Nasardinov: I have to run, too. 02:12:28 Sabine Clark: Have to run Thank you Re-Use committee, great meeting