I definitely want our town to provide services to residents in general and seniors in particular. But I am not convinced we need a single building to do so.
Over the 19 years I have lived in Lincoln, I have thoroughly enjoyed my use of multiple existing buildings in town: Town Offices for Green Energy Committee meetings, Bemis Hall for podiatry, Hartwell for Pilates classes, Lincoln Station for Land Trust movies, the Library for club meetings and book groups, the Pierce House for town events, and of course the Donaldson Auditorium for Town Meetings and 8th Grade plays. Arriving at each building, I feel the warmth of the town, paid staff as well other residents. I think I would find it less interesting to arrive at a big new building for everything! I want to propose my own vision for housing the COA + HS and PRD: Town Offices: There are about 5 small rooms designed for meetings of 3-4 people. These rooms are rarely used and could be made offices for services that need privacy. There is also the large meeting room on the first floor and a smaller conference room upstairs. Lincoln Station: Spaces there seem underutilized. The Town could pay the RLF for use of these spaces and dedicate them to the visiting service providers who arrive from out of town. It supports the RLF and local business, and, as everyone has pointed out, the buildings are convenient for parking and shopping amenities. Lincoln Library: The Tarbell Room is perfect for gatherings of about 40 people and includes excellent AV amenities. I have never had difficulty scheduling meetings if I reserve in advance. Pierce House: This lovely space is available throughout the winter months for planned events. The summer months are busy with weddings though outdoor exercise classes have been wonderful. Bemis Hall: This beloved building needs some investment but it offers a cozy gathering space downstairs and a unique auditorium for larger groups. With offices relocated to other areas and upgrades to kitchen and bathroom, it could become my new favorite hangout. Parking in front should all be reserved for Handicapped use. Hartwell Pods: We need an overhaul of the Hartwell pods for PRD and COA classes. The Director of COA + HS might choose to have an office and administrative services here. Scheduling is the key to a distributed set of services. Modern calendar capabilities make complex scheduling much easier than they once were. If spaces have dedicated uses, then maximizing their efficient use becomes as easy as scheduling schoolroom classes: Monday at 10 for French lessons; Monday at 11 for ukulele, etc. My point is that Lincoln has many wonderful spaces, some historic and in need of TLC, some that are brand new, energy efficient and modern. I love going into all of them and seeing the range of people, views, and distinct personalities of each one. Let’s use what we have, renovate and build what we need. Of course, we need creative, problem-solving architects whose focus is not always on a brand new building. I am 78 years old and look forward to many more years of enjoying this wonderful town as I age in place! Best regards, Lynne Smith Lynne Smith 5 Tabor Hill Road Lincoln, MA 01773 cell: 781-258-1175 ly...@smith.net <mailto:ly...@smith.net>
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