Residents review Robin Hood and Colonial Park projects
Published on May 13th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - The School Building Committee and residents recently had the opportunity to review, offer suggestions and ask questions about the designs for Stoneham's four new elementary schools.
Phases three and four of the four phase building project, which deal with the new Robin Hood and Colonial Park schools, are not scheduled to be completed for another eight years, but due to state mandates for funding, the town must submit the proposals to the state by June 1. This deadline has made residential input all the more valuable.
The proposal for the new Robin Hood School, explained Geller Associates' Robert Corning, landscape architect for the project, calls for an addition to be built on the structure.
Presently, the building is U-shaped. The two-story addition, explained Corning, would be constructed within the U and would form two small courtyards withing the body of the building. Those courtyards would be accessible only to maintenance staff and are proposed because of the high costs which would be the result of attempting to make the addition conform with the building's odd shape.
A new access road which would be linked and parallel to Sycamore Road has been proposed and would incorporate a turnaround for parent and bus drop-offs. Also included in this plan is a lot for parking which would connect with the new access road, Corning said.
A new softball/soccer field would be constructed along with a "tot lot" for smaller children and a basketball court.
The existing structure would receive aesthetic and small structural repairs such as complete window replacement and a facelift for the 1950's wing of the building.
The addition would become the school's front entrance and the building would incorporate architectural designs reminiscent of Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest, he explained.
After the presentation, residents asked why the School Building Committee is seeking an educational zoning change at this year's Special Town Meeting (May 7).
Committee Vice Chairman Ron Fiore explained that two of the schools, the South and Central, would need variances for construction to be allowed under current bylaws.
"The reason that we've gone for the zoning law change is because it makes sense," he said. "What we're trying to do is maximize what little space we have in town.
"The town could go ahead and make a variance without this zoning change," Fiore conceded. "This is just an easier way of doing it."
The new Colonial Park School is the last of the schools to be constructed in the four-phase project.
Corning said that the structure proposed would be a one-story addition to the existing building.
A new gymnasium/cafeteria would be constructed and the existing one would be transferred over to a classroom use.
The new entryway to the building would be marked by a clock tower and the windows and some masonry would be replaced in the existing building to ease the transition from old to new.
A hard surface play area would surround the building and a new basketball court, soccer field and two baseball/softball fields would be incorporated in the open air designs.
What seemed to be of utmost importance to abutters in attendance was the long road which extends off of Avalon Road and would serve as the drop-off area.
Presently, residents told project architects, parents jam the surrounding site with their vehicles in the mornings and afternoons due to the lack of such on-site areas. This extended road would also lead to the schools 60 parking spaces, Corning explained.
Minor revisions may be coming in the month prior to the submittal of the plans.
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