It saddens me to learn that Newton city government continues to consider Albermarle as a viable site for the proposed senior center. I had vowed not to weigh in regarding NewCAL because it seemed that many others had, and more eloquently than I might. At this stage I am opposed to siting the senior center in any park or green space, even if the building were placed on hardscape.
Imagine my surprise when, after a series of heavily attended meetings of city council subcommittees and the Parks and Recreation Commission, I learned that the powers-that-be had whittled the possible sites down to two, Newton Centre and Albermarle. I can easily conjure up a half-dozen other sites, consisting exclusively of hardscape, that most residents would prefer over Albermarle, and so can most of you. How did things come to this pass?
A final thought. On a recent glorious autumn evening, I took a Bike Newton tour along the Charles River. Our return route took us right past Albermarle Field. The time was 6 o’clock and the joint was jumping.
On one side of Cheesecake Brook two soccer games were in progress on Fessenden’s fields. On the other side Albermarle was just as busy. It was heartening to see, but a basic truth emerged plainly enough to me: This corner of the city is already a busy place! Adding a senior center to the mix would only exacerbate problems of traffic and logistics for residents and students and teachers and users of the park. Let’s face the inevitable and find a better place for NewCAL.
>I can easily conjure up a half-dozen other sites, consisting exclusively of hardscape, that most residents would prefer over Albermarle, and so can most of you.
City owned hardscape sites? Ok, what are they? Only ones I can think of are DPW facilities. Where would they go?
I couldn’t agree more! Albemarle is already so heavily used (which is a good thing!). It’s baffling to think that it is a top choice for the NewCal building.
Bob, the City’s Solicitor, Mayor and City Council have all been advised of the overwhelming legal bases to bar locating NewCAL in any Newton park.
They are aware that the moment any official decision were made to proceed with Albemarle Park, a lawsuit will be filed including injunction.
So beyond the documented city-wide massive opposition to NewCAL in ANY Park, it would seem more than foolhardy for the City to proceed with an Albemarle Park siting since on top of that opposition, there most definitely will be protracted and costly litigation.
The city proceeding with Albemarle Park in the face of that, well, we’ll have to wait and see.
Advised by whom, Jim?
Me (and very possibly others with whom I have had legal discussion).
I have documented back-and-forth (with City) communications.
Good points all, @Bob. The evaluation of the triangle as an alternative for NewCAL is a good step, but that evaluation would by no means satisfy the P&R Commission rules that prohibit use of parkland unless there are no feasible alternatives. @Adam, the rules preclude looking only at city-owned sites in this situation. Private property is fair game, too. You’re not allowed to choose a city-owned site because it is “free.” @Jim is right on target.
The Mayor has already picked a righteous fight over Webster Woods with Boston College. The city should take the entire Hammond Pond Parkway site [not just the woodlands], and use the existing structure as the core for NewCal. It’s the most cost effective solution, and a great location for NewCal.
Now that the notion of developing our parklands has been circulating for a while and [I hope] that our Administration has heard the resounding ‘No, thank you!’, I am glad to hear that alternate sites are being re-considered.
But we shouldn’t stop at re-considering a single site. Today senior programming happens at 4+ locations around Newton. Why aren’t we also re-considering the wish-list version of NewCAL – looking for ways to gracefully decentralize the benefits across Newton (geographically) into multiple facilities?? This would certainly bring more site options into play.
If other larger communities like Cambridge and Somerville can do this successfully, then Newton can too.
If we get creative (and I think we need to) we can do better.
Agree completely for all the reasons you mention and more. I feel strongly that this whole process has been rushed and the committees need to slow down and consider alternatives that are more palatable to all citizens of Newton—including decentralizing our senior centers and giving the seniors what they deserve in neighborhoods that make sense…like so many other big cities do. Albemarle is a cherished place for the fields, the courts, the pool, the brook, and we simply cannot accept dismantling all these good things to build a structure that will take all of it away. Not to mention precedent…and TRAFFIC!
I received a telephone poll survey last night asking if I approve of Mayor Fuller taking Webster Woods by eminent domain. Who is paying for this poll BC or Mayor Fuller?
Agree completely for all the reasons you mention and more. I feel strongly that this whole process has been rushed and the committees need to slow down and consider alternatives that are more palatable to all citizens of Newton—including decentralizing our senior centers and giving the seniors what they deserve in neighborhoods that make sense…like so many other big cities do. Albemarle is a cherished place for the fields, the courts, the pool, the brook, and we simply cannot accept dismantling all these good things to build a structure that will take all of it away. Not to mention precedent…and TRAFFIC!
Thank you, @Bob, and @Jim.
At the Parks & Rec Commission meeting on Monday, the only audience comment came from a senior. “I’m a grateful senior,” she said, “because the senior center does a ton of wonderful things. I’m here on behalf of ten of my friends who feel the same way. We feel very strongly that Albemarle is NOT THE RIGHT SITE for NewCAL.”
She continued: “I went on a foliage tour picking up at Albemarle on Sunday. The park was packed — incredibly packed with people. We had a hard time parking and getting on. One person wanting to go on the tour had to get on somewhere else, because they couldn’t even park there at all. On Fessenden, people parked on both sides – even tonight, on my way here, I noticed that it is packed and already unsafe. The parking, walking, and safety of that area is not good. Fessenden has no place to put all these cars.
For all of those reasons, I think we should find a different site.”
Many seniors have spoken up against this initiative, and it’s troubling that their comments aren’t resonating enough with the city to remove Albemarle from consideration.
How, after so much strenuous objection on the part of so many residents, including those whom this center is designed to serve, can Albemarle still be on the table? I second @John’s call to be creative and open up the conversation to more than these two sites. If we start comparing ourselves to other cities with populations around 90,000, then we’ll find that we need multiple sites to support seniors in 13 villages. One idea is to land on a decentralized model, renovate the current site, and incorporate the Armory, as it is situated on a large road with more ready parking than Albemarle.
If you’re interested in alternative ideas for sites suggested by City Council candidates (including incumbents), check out
https://www.preservenewtonparks.com/s/Candidate-Statements-Albemarle.pdf
-linked off of our voting guide
https://www.preservenewtonparks.com/voting-guide
And indeed, the proposal to build on a beloved park does raise serious legal questions, which many residents are currently bringing into focus. But there are other reasons to change the plan, too – like listening to our seniors.
NIMBY is alive and well in Newton!
The new center as proposed won’t even fit in the Newton Centre triangle parking lot, which is only marginally larger than the existing senior center building. If we’re going to shrink the design to fit we might as well just rebuild it on the existing lot.
The Mayor is relentless!!!
Hear the voice of the people and hit the reset button: NO TO ALBERMARLE PARK. Seniors hate it. Families hate it. Park users hate it.
And while you are at the rethinking there are SO many more effective ways to provide services to seniors on a distributive Citywide basis than a new, expensive multigenerational activities / sports center building that we, frankly, cannot afford to build, maintain and staff in the face of the City’s structure budget deficits.
NewCAL is now a thoroughly mistaken concept with so much mission creep away from the original objective of enhancing SERVICES FOR SENIORS that it boggles the mind.
@Bob, please come to the NewCal community meeting and share your suggestions. We needed a new senior center 10 years ago, but it got kicked down the road. Finding a site is challenging.
Thursday, October 24, at 7:00PM
Community Meeting
Ed Center (100 Walnut Street) – Room 111
The seniors absolutely need a new center. I’m curious how the concept of a senior center morphed into a community center when it seems like most seniors want their own space. It feels like the working group/mayor are trying to put a square peg in a round hole. There have to be other options. It’s been said at many meetings that they can’t speak publicly about potential private owned properties. Hopefully they are also looking into some of those. I don’t understand how Albemarle ranked so high when there’s no ammenities near by, there’s no public transit and traffic is not ideal (to put it mildly). I was just driving down the Fessenden side of Albemarle, when a car was coming towards me! When I basically blocked the driver from going through me, I put down my window and told her that it was a one way street going the other way. Her reply was “oh” and then she proceeded to drive down towards Crafts Street. No wonder it’s the most dangerous intersection in the city.
Thank you, @Bob. I truly believe that we can come together as a city to make a plan for the new senior center that doesn’t involve taking away recreational parkland that is currently available to all and is utilized as part of the curriculum for the largest middle school in the city. Both @Cedar and @ John offer great suggestions.
As a matter of fact, I have attended all the meetings at the Ed Center concerning NewCAL and made comments at two of them. I am open to other sites but most interested in the Northland site for the following reasons: 1) The current plan for 825 residential units there, each one with at least one car, would significantly worsen the already challenging traffic snarl on Needham Street. A senior center on the site would lower that number of units and, as a result, decrease the number of residential automobiles. Senior center traffic is, by nature, temporary; 2) The site is in walking distance of lots of stores and services, which many seniors desire; 3) The presence of a senior center at the corner of Oak and Needham Streets might compel local and state officials finally to get around to improving the infrastructure on Needham Street, i.e. sidewalks, crosswalks, paths for cyclists, electric shuttle bus service, and so forth; and 4) The Greenway that runs behind Needham Street would provide a delightful place for seniors to stroll and to get some exercise.
I know that the powers-that-be will argue that it’s too late to change the plans for the mammoth Northland project. Still, the Oak Street site would work far better than Albermarle. Admittedly, each site has its constraints and challenges.
First, let’s revisit what services are actually likely to be used by the public, and how location affects that likelihood. Then, design the program around that. Then look at sites, public and private. Without the preliminary steps, the city will conclude that the triangle is unsuitable and return to Albemarle as the “only” feasible choice.
Of course, there are multiple other sites and concepts, but these continue to get short shrift. For example, Jim Epstein has sensible suggested use of the Armory, in conjunction with a renovated Walnut Street center.
I don’t see how opposition about using parkland for a senior center can be construed as NIMBYism. This “quid pro quo” concept of – we’ll move those much needed Gath Pool renovations up on the CIP and BTW we will also construct a fairly massive Senior Center at the site – is not …..sigh….
Every morning I walk through the field with my dog, waving to the multiple DAY middle school students that I know, thinking, how could she(Mayor Fuller) possibly take this from the kids? There’s always at least 100 of them using the spot they want to build on. It’s incredibly sad that this open space (the only, North of the pike) is an option.
Thank you Bob. I am also opposed to siting NewCal at Albemarle Field. The site is not centrally located, and is not accessible via public transportation. I am also concerned with the increase in traffic, and the increase in parking needs in an area already often parked up from FA Day teachers, youth sports and Chinese School on Sundays. While the claim is that no green space will be lost as the building would encompass the current site of Gath Pool, the basketball and tennis courts, there is also talk of “future expansion.” There is also the issue of flooding. A December 2009 “Cheesecake Brook Greenway Master Plan Report” by Weston and Sampson noted, “Based on the tone of the public meetings, it is apparent that the issues of traffic and flooding within the low lying sections of the corridor are sources of considerable angst among area residents.” The City’s 2014 Open Space Plan says, “”Chronic flooding can be considered a constant reoccurrence of floods during heavy rainfall. Areas subject to chronic flooding are mostly located along the Charles River, the southern reaching portion of the City, and the northern portion of the City specifically along Cheesecake Brook.” In an era of climate change, bringing increased heavy rainstorms, it does not make sense to put a building next to a brook that already floods out the road regularly. We are fortunate to have a floodable field next to Cheesecake Brook, I believe we should be using it for that purpose.
@bob Your proposal for something on Needham St is interesting. Good news is the state is already committed to improvements on Needham St & Highland Ave. that include better sidewalks, Newton’s first protected bike lanes and safer crossings. Construction already starting in Needham on Highland Ave. More information can be found here:
https://www.nnchamber.com/news/needham-street-highland-ave-redesign-unveiled
As for Albemarle, it is not a great site for many reasons and I would really like NewCAL to NOT BE BUILT ON PARKLAND, OPEN SPACE OR ANY SORT OF RECREATIONAL SPACE but to have a good process the city should be including all the potential sites, adjusting what could be built there and weigh options against each other. This is why I responded to the survey as undecided. Otherwise, this is going to be a game of hot potato as each neighborhood rises up against the senior center being in their neighborhood and we will still be having this conversation 10 years from now.
I’d be delighted to have it in my neighborhood, just not, as you agree @Alicia, on parkland or other open space. I’d nominate the Citizen’s Bank site. Tear down an ugly building. Great location near shops and parking. Maybe do a deal with the bank!
@Alicia and @Paul ; YESS!! I think there is a critical distinction in that exchange (and I hope @ David is listening too) : This is not a NIMBY issue. This is a ‘dont-build-it-on-a-park issue!!
It’s a SAD day when the best idea we have is to sacrifice well-used rec space for more development (which I think Newton also needs, in moderation).
We can do better.
What about the Newton Center triangle? What is the level of hostile opposition to that site? I think it was @Claire who also suggested the Newton Center citizens bank site a few weeks ago @PaulL. While I think that would work – I honestly don’t see it happening. People are opposed to the senior center having a gym, why would we expect they would support taking/buying a commercial building, tearing it down, and more than doubling the cost of the project? I’m not being snarky, I am searching for solutions.
A few thoughts, in no particular order:
1) Given Newton’s current fiscal situation, as recently reported by Mayor Fuller herself, what’s the rush on this project? Newton can’t even make budgetary ends meet now. And looking at the forecast over the next decade, the deficit grows dramatically. When Newton residents are already down the path to an almost certain tax override, do we need the added expense of a vanity project? Fixed-income seniors, the very group the mayor seeks to help, are often hit hardest by the overrides.
2) The scope and focus should remain on seniors – not the community at large. If the scope were smaller, the current senior center could be remodeled and hosting partnerships with existing, local organizations/facilities could be implemented.
3) If we absolutely must go forward, what about building on the open space on which city hall sits? That parcel is rarely used, hosting just a few events per year. If the project scope is narrowed to focus on seniors alone, that space would be adequate with the addition of some underground parking and shuttles.
>This is a ‘dont-build-it-on-a-park issue!!
J’Oliver, you’re in luck because the NewCal building will not displace the Albemarle green space at all–it’s going where the existing buildings and hardscape already exist.
see plans here: https://newcal.projects.nv5.com/download/program_design/Preliminary-Draft-Albemarle-Site-Test-Fit-Options_3.pdf
So you refuse to entertain the idea we move two tennis courts in a 17 acre park? That sounds grossly unreasonable–and very NIMBY.
@David M. – like many who oppose siting the new Senior Center there, my backyard is nowhere near Albemarle. It is a poor location for a number of reasons, which is why the building department announced tonight that they are looking at other possible sites.
@David M, you’re being ridiculous. There are many times in a day that Albermarle is flooded with cars. FA Day doesn’t have a parking lot. The buses and parents drop off and pick up there. That’s just twice in one day. Newton Soccer has practices there with really young kids that cannot be dropped off. Parents struggle to find spots where they can park so they can walk their children to their correct fields and coaches. Little league games with the same issue. There are sports all week and weekend on the Fessenden side. And on and on and on. And now we’re going to throw in first a huge construction project and then later seniors battling for the same parking spaces? Does that make any sort of sense? Zero. It makes zero sense. Except if you’re a mayor with older children who didn’t go to public school in West Newton, didn’t play town sports, and lives on the border of Brookline. THEN, it makes total sense.
Has there ever been a mayor less in touch with her constituents? Does she not realize how frustrated we are?
Again, I have never regretted a vote as much as I regretted voting for her.
@David M Where are you going to “move” the two tennis courts – and the basketball court – to at Albemarle? And the new pool area (both the pool itself and the deck) looks to be smaller than the current pool area. Among the common criticisms of the current pool is the crowding/lack of space – how does this help?
David M – Calling a basketball court and tennis courts hardscape that a 38,000 sf building would take up simply isn’t valid comparison. Calling people NIMBYs because they disagree with you – as an anonymous poster no less – is just plain nasty. If you’re going to go that route, post with your full name.
@Casey the solution is simple: these families shouldn’t be driving their kids, they should be biking! Or walking!
Just kidding,
can we get the pool refurbished without placing NewCal at Albermarle?
Not likely, @Jack. See my post here: https://village14.com/2019/10/21/quid-pro-quo/#axzz63Pl0xOjv