We are pleased to announce that Town Meeting has approved the acquisition of the Seaver Street properties. See below for details.
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~The Wellesley SBC
Acquisition of Seaver Street Properties Receives TM Approval
Last night, Town Meeting approved the purchase of three residential properties at 53, 55 and 57 Seaver Street for a total sum of $3.6 million. The properties are adjacent to the current high school site.
The Town Meeting article was brought forward by the Board of Selectmen and supported by the School Committee and the School Building Committee. The specifics of the article presented are available in the Advisory Committee Reports to the Special Town Meeting, page 29.
Together, the three properties total just under one acre and increase usable land area by 17%. Currently, over 48% of the site prior to this acquisition was not usable due to setbacks, flood plain designations and other land use restrictions.
The increase in usable land enables design options which maximize efficiency and optimize facility layout. Current constraints limit building position, angle and orientation forcing compromise and/or increased costs.
The article received well over the 2/3 support required for approval. Information on all actions taken at Town Meeting can be found on the Town Meeting "scorecard" on the Town Website.
NEXT STEP: Maximizing the Investment
The acquisition of the Seaver Street properties is a milestone in the High School Project process. We will continue to develop the fit test options which incorporate the acquired land in an effort to to extract the maximum value of the investment.
This work will include adjustments to orientation, design, traffic flow and parking and, most importantly, phasing. Phasing is a critical element of the project plan as it has a significant impact on project duration and therefore total cost. Both the renovation/addition option and new option are significantly impacted by this acquisition. |
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Preliminary Project Cost Evaluation & Discussion
The SBC and PBC have reviewed preliminary cost information associated with the first two fit test options under review.
These cost evaluations have been prepared by the SBC working with the architects, and are preliminary in nature, designed to enable the evaluation of the general costs associated with major decisions. Specific cost analyses will be generated by the Permanent Building Committee (PBC) in collaboration with the MSBA once detailed designs have been developed. Ultimately, final cost estimates will be prepared once schematic designs are complete.
The SBC will continue the discussion of costs with the constituent groups at the end of November and continue to refine them through mid-December.
Tom Goematt, a member of the SBC and CEO of Shawmut Design and Construction, has written a Summary of Cost Evaluations and reviewed the variables which impact them
Reference Articles
Building for the future, by Tom Goematt, Member of the SBC. A preliminary cost evaluation of the High School options, including the critical factors and variables which impact costs.
Learning from Others, by Cynthia Westerman, Member of the SBC. A summary of the site visits to local high schools which have recently undergone renovation and/or new construction.
For Performance or Sport: The Space Matters, by Suzanne Littlefield, School Committee and SBC Member. A summary of the School Committee decisions regarding design of the Auditorium and Gymnasium spaces to enable the WPS Educational Program.
Enabling Core Values, by the SBC. The key principles (in order of priority) to serve as the foundation for decision-making in the High School Project.
The WHS Project and You, by Katherine L. Babson, Jr., Chair of the SBC. The impact of the High School Project on each and every resident and the commitment to two-way communication.
How Public Education has evolved in Wellesley, by Bella Wong, Superintendent of the Wellesley Public Schools. How the many changes in teaching methods, state and federal mandates to education, and the importance of the extracurricular programs impact the current Educational Program.
WHS Project: The Pieces of the Puzzle, by Bella Wong, Superintendent of the Wellesley Public Schools. A summary of the physical space needed to enable the WPS Educational Program. The resulting "Architectural Educational Program" details what is included and where it is located and as such, becomes the basis for the building design.
WHS Project: The Importance of Site, by Marlene Allen, Member of the School Committee and Chair of the Interboard Land Use Working Group. A summary of the study conducted by the Land Use Working Group to assess the constraints and opportunities afforded by the land parcels adjacent to the current High School site.
SBC Members
Katherine L. Babson, Jr. Selectmen Representative SBC Chairman
Steve Baker Citizen-Architect
John Donahue Facilities Administrator
Tom Goemaat Citizen-Contractor
Steve Gagosian PBC Representative
Rusty Kellogg Advisory Representative
Andrew Keough High School Principal
Hans Larsen Executive Director
Suzy Littlefield School Committee Representative
Kathy Mullaney PBC Projects Administrator
Cynthia Westerman Citizen-Project Manager
Bella Wong Superintendent of Schools |
