HomeMy WebLinkAbout1919-10-10The board met on August 18 and 28 and on September 18
with a joint -committee to consider the site for the
proposed town hall.
LZeeting of October 10, 1819.
Present: Greeley, Ryan, Piper, Hartman.
The board considered the question of the proper de-
velopment ank protection of the r.ast Lexingtjon flats
and agreed to definitely ascertain the attitude of the
town of Arlington, which owns the property. As soon
as possible the board agreed to have the matter brought
before the voters for action.
Voted: To advise that the town obey the law in regard
to guide posts, R. L., Chap. 52, Sections 1, 2 and 3.
Voted: That it is the sense of the board that the
interests if the town and the work of the board would
be advanced by the promotion of a town newspaper.
FACTORS IN ZOOATI OH OF
General effect on the Town.
It will improve the Town mostif it is located where it
has the handsomest and most,00ngenial surroundings and`
cin be seen by both townspeople and visitors. It should
not be used, however, as the means of securing the des-
truction of an existing eye -sore.
2. Relation to future development. of Town.
(a) Should not be located in midst of future business sec -
.tion as it can have no assured relation to new business
buildings, withdraws too much valuable property from taxa-
tion, and interrupts the proper growth of the business
centre. stew England villages usually have public buildings
grouped in some central location. Lexington has two distinct
villages. The Hall could form a part of a civic centre in
the larger village .
(b) Should be conspicuous, in order to have the greatest
effect on the general oharaoter of the Town (see 1).
(o) Should be convenient. Should be so located as to serve
the townspethple with the least inconvenience. The town
officers, such as collector, treasurer and clerk should;
be accessible. The population centre of Lexington is
shifting rapidly toward the 3ast Village so that a loca-
tion near the centre of population Would carry the Hall
well out of the Centre Village. This is undesirable, as
it would then be only measurably convenient to either
village. A site somewhere near the main village would
probably be practically as convenient to the East Village
and a great deal more convenient to the Centre.
Convenience is becoming more and more an elastic
quality as transportation methods improve, and does not
limit.the location within narrow bounds, as in morless
days.
3. Relation to its immediate neighborhood.
(a) Immediate surroundings should be safeguarded and should
promise if possible congenial development in the nature of a
civic oentre, or group of future public buildings.
(b) Should not be a single structure unrelated to its
future neighbors. This is a discredited idea and has given
place to a wider appreciation of the advantages of well
grouped buildings. Theoretically, it is possible group
commercial and public buildings into one harmonious oom
position, but practically the public is unable or unwill-
ing -to con',rol private development.
in any case, the best result'oomes from'grouping'
buildings that are related in. purpose. In Lexington
this means grouping with some: existing buildings or else
getting land enough to permit.. of other new buildings.
(c) Should dominate the groups of which it is one.
Among business buildings in a -business district it may
be completely eclipsed by taller coneroial-struotures,
like Carpenters Hall, Philadelphia, or the Watertown,
Waltham or .Stoneham Town Halls.
(d) Deed not be adjacent to town yard for sewer, water
and street departments.
iela.tion to lot.
(a) Should have room for parking motor oars, for second-
ary ears and for ample lawn, (unless it is decided to
build it directly on the street).
(b) Should be placed in such a way as to provide for
future grouping with other buildings, or extension of
this building.
`e of lot.
Building might easily need to cover an area 125 feet
wide and 175 feet deep. The Arlington Town. Ball ie
larger than this, and Braintree slightly smaller.
Tewksbury, with 09,000, is covering 90 x 120. A good
lawn in front would require that the front of the build-
ing be at least 50 feet from the street line. The present
Hall is 25 feet. Minimum parking space, or at least a
fair passage in rear of building, would make probable
required depth -- 50 - 175 25 -250 ft. Width need
not be greatly in excess of building if neighboring
property is safeguarded.
See diagrams of lots and schedule of
dimensions of Town Halls,
o site appears ideal, and therefore the procedure
must be to weigh advantages and disadvantages.
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(1) Location should be conspicuous and where it will add
be uty of town for Visite, s 's wl1 as fo to do e
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(1) Should not be in such relation to surroundings that
nearby present or future buildings can injure it.
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(3) Should be conirenient for voters taking train in
morning.
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(4) Should be converie:1:, :or transaction of daily
ousipess.
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(5) Should ue convenient te Eaet and North Villages
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(6) Should be convenient to as large a number of people
as possible on foot.
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1 ) Should have roor fer thture civic centre of well-
grouped public boildircs.
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(8) Shout nct le elov*d.1-4 1...T.. cloLe t'.., street lk
hall, but have roohl for amble lawn 1.,” rront.
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(9) It should not be 60 located as to withdraw large
values in property, r': 1; or future, from taxation.
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(10) Should not be concealed from South East an-oroach
un liazo. -470.
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( ) 3You1drhot be close to both steam and electric.
roads at noisy points.
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(127 Should not be in a style foreign to Lexington, but
houl(V be Colonial , amid sl.rreundings favorable to tha
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or feature of the town.
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