HomeMy WebLinkAboutSBFRC - Ad Hoc Stone Building Feasability/Re-use Committee Charge - August 2020 AD HOC STONE BUILDING FEASIBILITY/RE-USE COMMITTEE
Members: Nine voting members. Membership should include residents or individuals working
in Lexington who have background in or experience in one or more of the following
areas:
• East Lexington community;
• Community Arts and Culture;
• Lexington business community;
• Creative or adaptive reuse project development or management
• Historic preservation;
• Tourism, economic development or placemaking
• Architecture
• Curatorial or other museum experience;
• Community Preservation Committee
Appointed by: The Select Board,the Board will designate the Committee Chair.
Ex Officio/Liaisons: While not part of the Committee, the Select Board; Capital Expenditures
Committee; Appropriation Committee and Cary Memorial Library Trustees are
invited to recommend a non-voting liaison.
Length of Term: Upon completion and presentation of deliverables to the Select Board in accordance
with the established deliverables schedule as outlined below.
Staff Support: Assistant Town Manager for Development.
Meeting Times: As determined by the Committee.
A minimum of three meetings to solicit public comment,preceded by surveys,forums,
social media or other forms of public input.
Committee Goal: To preserve the Stone Building and explore constructive reuse by researching the
feasibility of alternative uses for the building, thereby supporting future Town
investment to implement the preservation recommendations of the 2009 Historic
Structures Report or such recommendations as may subsequently be made.
The Stone Building is believed to be one of the earliest lyceums in America. It was
built in 1833, and speakers included Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau,
Charles Sumner, and Josiah Quincy, Jr. The lyceum hall is on the second floor. The
2009 Menders Torrey Spencer report recommends that the second floor be used as it
was historically, as an assembly room for public lectures and community meetings.
The first floor was believed to have been living quarters.
Committee Role: This committee will investigate and prepare a feasibility study on possible re-uses of
the historic Stone Building in order to:
1) implement the recommended improvements in the 2009 Menders, Spencer, Torrey
preservation plan ("the Plan"), and
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2) be consistent with both the deeded use restrictions ("the Deed"), and the Secretary
of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties ("the Standards"),
and
3) to determine the feasibility and market demand for uses of the Stone Building
consistent with the Deed and the Standards.
Recognizing that operating the Stone Building for public use will have associated
costs, and the type and degree of users' rental or lease interest must be gauged to also
project whether a portion of the operating costs could be covered by lease revenue from
the future user and uses. This feasibility study will therefore inform what use(s)justify
budgeting further preservation and ADA accessibility investments in the building.
Deliverables: Report addressed to Select Board on the feasibility of the proposed use no later than
September 2021.
Prior to serving as a member of this committee, members are required to:
1. Acknowledge receipt of the Summary of the Conflict of Interest Statute. Further,to
continue to serve on the Committee the member must acknowledge annually receipt of
the Summary of the Conflict of Interest Statute. Said summary will be provided by and
acknowledged to the Town Clerk.
2. Provide evidence to the Town Clerk that the appointee has completed the on-line
training requirement required by the Conflict of Interest statute. Further,to continue to
serve on the Committee, the member must acknowledge every two years completion
of the on-line training requirement.
Reference: 2009 Historic Structures Report,Menders, Torrey Spencer, Stone Building
https://www.lexin tog nma.gov/stone-building
(Link at top left of the webpage)
The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards.htm
https://www.nps.gov/!ps/standards/treatment-guidelines-2017.pdf
Seven purposes defined in Stone Building deed:
1. A branch library
2. A public reading room
3. A public art museum
4. A meeting place for classes
5. Public lectures authorized by the Trustees of Cary Library
6. A room for children and youth of Lexington under the supervision of the Trustees
7. Any other purposes that the Trustees find consistent with the Library's mission.
Charge adopted by the Selectmen on May 21, 2018
Charge amended by the Select Board on August 24,2020 updating Select Board name,
new deliverables date and areas for member background/experience
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