Ed Cameron sent this notice along informing that public that these is the final design of the senior center and no further public input is required.
KIDDING!
Actually, Ed stressed these are DRAFTS and public comment is desired at the upcoming meeting on April 28, 6:30 p.m. at the Library.
My first impression. The senior center dominates the parcel more than I'd anticipated. I envisioned it being tucked further back into the Washington and Kent Street corners. But I don't have the best spatial forecasting ability.
Still, what's with the setback off the street? This is a classic Newburyport neighborhood with homes resting right upon the street. I think the senior center should match the configuration.
I actually thought of the senior center this week while reading in the Daily News about the mothballed luxury condo project behind the Towle building. It's a shame the building can't acquire one of these hafl built structures and convert it into a senior center. That would be the ideal spot, easy access to parking, the waterfront and many doctor's offices in the Towle building.
No doubt there are millions of rea$ons why that won't happen, but I'm allowed to recklessly opine.
15 comments:
Site Plan A, with some help.
Actually, that sounds like an excellent idea to me ... the developers would salvage something from one building that's now a blight on the landscape ... and I figure that would be cheaper than $50 mil or whatever they project the senior center will cost, right?
If only ...
seems like a waste of money to build a brand new building for seniors when they are the class of people that are being forced out of town the fastest, there won't be any left soon...
I saw a New England Development flyer on Inn Street the other day. And if they're advertising by flyer now, you know the commercial real estate market in Newburyport is depressed.
If memory serves: Rental property at 15 Green Street, 6400 square feet, $22 per square foot per year, so by my math that's $140,800 a year in rent.
We currently pay the Salvation Army about $12,000 per year for the current space the Senior use. Because that space is inadequate, Newburyport is looking to build a 12,000 sq foot Senior Center for an estimated $5 Million (not $50M Gillian).
The Council on Aging operating budget cannot support the amount of rent one of these developers would charge. That's why the Senior Center will need to be funded by private donors, grants, and the State's CDBG funds.
And that's why a long term solution for the Senior Center is not the Towle Building nor was it where the Black Dog is now located.
Section VI-G of the zoning code deals with front yard setbacks. This section was revised by the City Council to encourage a continuity of front yard setbacks in the older sections of the city. Until that revision, any structure built would have to be set back from the street, creating the "missing tooth" effect on the street scape. To build a structure that was lined up with its neighbors would require a variance from the ZBA.
there is bigotry rampant in Newburyport against seniors they have no ethnicity they are your mom and dad and grampas and nanas and they are living longer than their children that is because they go to the activities and the servies offered by the senior services. get over it this is going to happen and if you don't like it move
James I'm a little confused. Building with set back would require a variance or building without setback would require a variance. I'm guessing the former, but the last sentence loses me.
Tom: Let me try again. I'm a printer, not a writer.
Let's assume for discussion purposes that there is a house in town that butts hard and fast to the sidewalk in front of it. Sadly, it burns to the ground. Happily, all inside, including pets, escape unharmed.
The homeowner, who really, really loves his/her neighbors, desires to rebuild the house. Under the old code, he/she would be forced to push the house back from the street to the distance required by the front yard setback in order to be in compliance. The zoning code in essence required front yards.
But our determined homeowner doesn't want a front yard, but liked the home where it was. In order to do this, he/she would have to go to to the ZBA and convince them to grant a variance from the code that requires the front yard, not always the easiest task, or the most expeditious or least expensive course of action.
Now, the homeowner could rebuild on the existing footprint by right, as doing so would be in compliance with the zoning code. Better for the neighborhood, better for the homeowner, and less work for the ZBA.
How does this pertain to the Senior Center? If my reading of the code is correct, the Center would fundamentally need to line up with the buildings to its right and left, thus creating a coherent street scape.
If you would like more typing on why the city and its zoning code evolved the way it did, I would be happy to oblige. In order not to lose readership, you may want to put it to a vote.
What kind of pets!!?
Well, I would like to hear more.
But why would the nice pet owner be required to go before the ZBA to build on the street while, if I'm reading you correctly, the Senior Center would be required to bump up to the street without the need for ZBA approval.
I wish someone would hold a public meeting on this senior center idea.
Sorry Ed, Tom & everyone. I knew $5 mil so why I typed $50 is beyond me (I'll blame it on my touchy keyboard)... I think the buildings that are there already are up the hill from the parking lot anyway.
But does the city have some protection from having ugly half-built buildings sitting there like that?
Tom: A ferret, an iguana and 15 cats.
The pet owner in question would NOT have to go to the ZBA to bump up to the street. In times past, they WOULD have to. The old rules required structures to be pushed back, regardless if the rest of the street was hard to the sidewalk.
If this still is unclear, its your turn to buy coffee. And a bagel.
It's a shame this issue has taken as long as it has - a city like Newburyport wiht no real senior center and no real youth center - no doubt that both "interest groups" could have been satisfied with a multi purpose building - if this concept had been floated quite some time ago, perhaps we would be a lot further along the road to construction and ribbon cutting.
Generally speaking, the elderly use such buildings during the day and the youth could do so at night - a gym could have been built into the design (God knows our recreational facilities for basketball are pathetic) and with some reasonable compromise between the two groups - we'd have been happy campers. This post could go on and on, but you get the idea. I'm reasonably certain that other communities have done this with positive results!
Hi,
from Anon:
"seems like a waste of money to build a brand new building for seniors when they are the class of people that are being forced out of town the fastest, there won't be any left soon..."
I would disagree with this a bit. although i certainly would not want to bet against you that they are one of the large groups of people leaving the community.
Although we commonly focus on the plight of seniors with limited income and little savings. there are very many that are moving out of larger houses in urban areas and have capital to invest in areas like ours.
with smaller living space needs and a desire to live in a quieter but also active community there are quite a few seniors that move into our community. access to the waterfront, library, theaters etc. much better than living somewhere that requires a car to get everywhere.
it seems that balancing the needs of these to groups is important. i know a bunch of seniors in town that love living here. in my mind the goal is to provide stuff that makes them want to stay.
that all said. i also completely agree with another anon further down.
"It's a shame this issue has taken as long as it has - a city like Newburyport wiht no real senior center and no real youth center...".
I have a hard time supporting any municipal building that does not take the needs of the entire community.
that and some of my best memories of growing up in this city were from people that had 60 years on me. i would never have appreciated where I grew up if i had not had the chance to hear first hand accounts of how it used to be.
thanks,
sds
Nicely said, sds. I have learned so much about Newburyport from talking to people who have lived here for a long time.
I agree in spirit with the 'anon' who said the building could be used by youth groups at night, but I see that as being a potential HUGE sticking point with the neighbors.
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