HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-03-29-COALRPC-rpt.pdf •
ARTICLE 8a TOWN BUILDING ENVELOPE PROGRAM:
A STUDY FOR A SENIOR CENTER $50,000
Supportive information from the Council on Aging Long Range Planning Committee,
Clark Cowen, Chairman
I.In order to realize the objective of a creating a badly needed adequate Senior Center as soon as
possible, the COA Board wants to follow an orderly planning process and have time for thorough
community discussion. The COA Board proposes to:
1. Reexamine its program needs with a professional architect who will translate this
information into space requirements and necessary square footage. This will take into
account the increased office space needed for the Social Service Department and the
return of the Adult Social Day Care Program(now temporarily in Lincoln) to the Senior
Center.
2. Examine a site with a professional landscape architect to see if it is appropriate for our
needs. The COA Board, after intensive investigation of more than a dozen sites, has found
two potential ones--.the Laconia St. 12 acre school site and the Highland Ave. 14 acre
Town owned land. Analysis should cover soil conditions, establish wetlands, assess the
site access and road conditions, and determine where to place a building envelope.
II. Justification of cost estimates:
The request for funds is based on this formula: $150 per square foot of construction costs times
the size (estimated at 30,000 square feet) _ $4,500,000. Architectural designs costs run at 8%to
10% of the total costs, or$360,000 to $450,000. We are requesting approximately 1% of the
estimated total construction costs. The architectural schematic design costs are estimated at
$36,000. The site analysis costs are estimated at $8,000 per site. If one site were analyzed the
total needed for this stage would be $44,000. If two sites were analyzed, that cost would increase
to $52,000.
Although the proposal is for plans for a Senior Center, it may be possible to also consider
including playfields and/or setting aside a portion of the site for affordable senior housing either
under the Lexington Housing Authority or LexHAB.
III. Why the $50,000 is needed this fiscal year:
1. The space requirements, schematic designs and site analysis will be the basis for
discussions among the seniors as well as the rest of the community.
2. Confirm the size of the building. The State Office of Elder Affairs recommends senior
centers should provide between five and six square feet per senior. Since Lexington has
7,200 residents over the age of 60, we might need a 36,000 to 43,000 square foot building.
3. The COA Board would like to be ready to join a bundled debt-exclusion override that will
be proposed to complete the elementary school rebuilding and renovations.
4. The Senior Center needs to move as soon as possible. The limited hours of operation(no
programs after 4:30 p.m. or on the weekends) in the lease controlled by the Muzzey
Condo Association severely impacts the programs and outreach we are able to offer.
5. Last year 2500 unduplicated seniors used the Center; this is based on the recorded number
of people signing up for activities. Of the 7,200 seniors in Lexington, approximately one-
third of them use the Senior Center.
6. The support of Town Meeting for this first step for a new Senior Center would
demonstrate good will toward the older population---now 23% and predicted to increase
to 30% by 2020.