Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-12-09-LCC-minTown of Lexington Lexington Center Committee Minutes for the meeting of December 9th, 2021 held pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021. Committee members in attendance: Michael Boudett, Richard Brown, Katherine Huang, Frederic Johnson, Pamela Lyons, Innessa Manning Jerold Michelson (Chair), Pamela Shadley Liaisons: Doug Lucente (Select Board), Frank Smith (Capital Expenditures Committee), Janet Perry (Commission on Disability), Sandra Shaw (Council on Aging), Sandhya Iyer (Economic Development Director), Joe Pato (Select Board, informally), Dawn McKenna (Tourism Committee) Ross Morrow (DPW Engineering), Casey Hagerty (Economic Development Office), Erin Sandler-Rathe (Chamber of Commerce) Also: Bebe Fallick, Marsha Baker, Kerry Brandin, Qinghua Ma (Elsie) (Tourism) Jerry gave us the DPW update: the holiday lights and banners have been installed; tree pruning in the CVS and Michelson’s lot is completed; and the lights around and behind the Depot building have been replaced. Ross gave us the Streetscape update: brickwork will be wrapped up next week. Once the work is shut down nothing will take place until after Patriot’s Day. All work undertaken will be completed. Nothing temporary in place. Jerry noted the impact of the loss of businesses, especially Sanyo and Panera in terms of foot traffic in those areas. Dawn asked Jerry to pass along the message of the impact of vacancies like Panera and Sanyo to the Select Board. Casey gave the Economic Development update: there’s a potential tenant for the Sanyo space who has inquired about a liquor license. A bike shop might be coming into the Panera space. The Visitors Center plans to be open over the winter albeit with a reduction in hours. A refill store is coming into the old Omar’s space. Coco Tea had a very successful grand opening. Anisoptera has opened. The Center Committee voted seven to zero to approve the minutes of the October 21st, meeting; and voted six to zero to approve the minutes of the November 18th meeting. Jerry discussed the new appointments process We have one open seat (once Howard Levin submits a formal resignation.) Jerry asked our view of the effect of the new lowered traffic speed in the Center. The consensus was that traffic has slowed down. Having waited for a quorum of members of the Tourism Committee Dawn called a joint meeting of the Center and Tourism Committees to order for the purpose of discussing the use of ARPA funds. Lexington will receive a total of just under $10 million which must be fully spent by December 21 (should that be 31?) 2026. Doug noted that the Select Board will make the final decisions. The purpose of ARPA funds is to support immediate economic stabilization to households and businesses and address unequal impacts and provide direct support to small businesses. Sandhya described her department’s (Land Use Housing and Development) requests for ARPA funds. See attached spreadsheet. Doug pointed out that the purpose is to stimulate the economy and combat the effects of COVID. He noted that there was still time for “great ideas.” About $1 million has been set aside for participatory funding. There was some discussion of the redesign of the CVS lot. The redesign is included in this year’s budget. (And so might not be really appropriate for ARPA funds.) Elsie talked about marketing Lexington to Boston’s substantial foreign student population based on her experience as a foreign student in Boston. Erin discussed a plan to subsidize rents for incoming business owners and creating an incubator space in the Center. Mike cautioned that we want to help businesses, not property owners. “What can be done to change the mix of businesses so that the Center can be more vibrant and family friendly?” We need grant programs that incentivize certain uses - this might be a chance to affect what comes into the Center. Kerry Brandin told us that years ago the Design Advisory Committee did a report on the CVS lot; the back of buildings; the NSTAR lot; and the privately owned area behind Gordon Optical/Upper Crust. Could this area become a parklet? Also the alley off Waltham Street (privately owned.) Katherine said that in order to turn good ideas into action we need a “recovery strategy.” Sandhya noted that some of these ideas have already been implemented while other ideas need a larger process. Also, some results take time. Dawn said that there is no shortage of ideas. “We need to ask the Select Board – what is the process for that money?” Dawn suggested that the Tourism and Center Committees issue a joint statement along the lines of “We believe that APRA funds should be used to stimulate the Center’s economy with projects that can be done this year. In other words “We support projects that will stimulate the economy immediately.” Doug said that directional help with specific projects is always welcome and we must have a public process. The Select Board would be persuaded by projects that will stimulate the economy. Thematic input is important and the SB is also seeking a sense of scale. Doug noted that Lexington’s form of government “is not a fast moving organization.” Katherine suggested that we specify what success would look like. Dawn said that we would provide some directional goals to the Select Board. Dawn and Jerry agreed that they would work on a joint statement for the Select Board. Everyone gave a visual thumbs up. And that wrapped up the meeting.