More changes are likely at South School site
Published on April 29th, 1998
STONEHAM MA, - With the clock ticking, the School Building Committee is forging ahead with its recently increased workload for meeting the state's June l documents submission deadline for Stoneham's $39.7 million elementary school rebuilding project.
Major design changes to the first school in the project, South School, are anticipated, even at this late date, since the committee and the town have begun investiga-tion into acquiring three Summer Street residences that would bolster the South School plan in terms of parking and overall quality.
Although far from a done deal, purchase of the properties by the town for incorporation into the project, requires immediate action by the project's architect, Earl R. Flansburgh and Associates, to secure state approval of concept drawings of the revised plan. In addition, the submission of a Special Town Meeting warrant article is necessary in order to obtain approval for such a purchase by the town.
At the committee's Wednesday night meeting, a $l500 fee for the revision of concept drawings was approved. Flansburgh Principal David Soleau reported that preliminary discussions with the state regarding a design change to South School resulted in agreement on the new concept, but final approval was contingent upon approval of drawings.
"I think it would be prudent not to go to Town Meeting without a letter" of approval from the state, Soleau stated.
It was also determined that site development of the new plan will be eligible for 63 percent reimbursement by the state, while it was likewise inferred that redesign costs might be eligible as well. Soleau called this approval from the state, regarding such design changes occurring so late in the game, "unusual."
In addition to the necessary state endorsement, as well as approval of a Special Town Meeting warrant article for the town's purchase of the properties, the revised South School plan is also contingent on an agreement being reached between the town and the property owners.
Committee Chairman Dan Hogan reported on the status of negotiations between the property owners at 5, 7, and 9 Summer Street and the town. He called the meetings, to this point, "amicable," and advised that appraisals for each of the properties were expected "to be in (Town Administrator Jeffrey) Nutting's hands" by April 24.
"All three have agreed to go forward," stated Hogan, and described the issue at this point as one of agreeing on a "successful negotiation price."
Hogan added that the residents of the Summer Street properties "understand the timeframe," for which they would have to vacate the premises, which, in order to avoid construction delays, would be by the end of October.
Since the additional land will allow enough space for a 60-space parking lot, as well as a hard top play area, the need for a parking garage on the site, as originally planned, has been eliminated. This garage was estimated at a cost of $l million and would not have been eligible for the 63 percent state reimbursement.
The inclusion of a garage was originally made necessary due to the small lot on which the South School will be rebuilt. In order to adhere to new state requirements, construction of a garage was the only option available for building on the existing lot. Soleau told the committee, however, that there was "no school around with a parking garage."
Upon questioning of the $l500 for concept drawings for the revised plan, Flansburgh representative Duncan McClelland called the revision "quite a process." The elimination of the parking garage would likely result in changes to entrances, stairways, and drop-off area, all of which must be reviewed again by town department, including Fire, Building and Public Works.
"We'd prefer not to do it," Soleau states. "It's always a problem to get this far into a job and then redesign it," he stated, citing the increased risk for error, but added that "with the additional land, the redesign is better."
McClelland called the cost of the redesign to the town "roughly a break even," when comparing the cost of acquisition, demolition and redesign, to the savings of $l million non-reimbursable dollars for the original parking garage, along with its ongoing costs of operating, maintenance and insurance.
Hogan reiterated to the committee, however, that without agreement on all three properties, the revised plan would not be feasible since anything less would not yield the required space for parking.
"We've been proceeding under the assumption of all or nothing," stated Hogan.
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