Two NewCAL meetings scheduled for Nov. 21 and Dec. 12 have been postponed until further notice. Here’s the note on the NewCAL website:
“Please note that we have decided to postpone the NewCAL community meeting scheduled for this Thursday, November 21, as well as the meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 12. We will let you know the date and time of the January meeting as soon as it is scheduled.
This is a particularly busy time of year for all of us. We want to put our heads together and come back to the community with some thoughts about the process, communication, site possibilities and challenges related to NewCAL in general and the Newton Centre Triangle parking lot in particular.
We look forward to listening and collaborating with members of the community as we move toward finding the best location for NewCAL.
Thank you!”
Kudos to everyone here at V14 (posters and commenters) for helping getting the job done!
What the Notice really means is Albemarle (along with all Newton Parks) is off the table.
While the Park is out, the question of the SCOPE of NewCAL still remains. That is, will NewCAL be an all encompassing Community/Athletic Center, which most Newtonians, including most seniors, don’t need, don’t want, and don’t want to pay for; or will it be just a Senior Center, which most Newtonians, including most seniors, feel they need, want, and are more than willing to pay for.
We do not need a NewCal. We need a new Senior Center. If the Mayor calls for an Override in January, all support for a NewCal will drop. Jim Epstein, I believe in an earlier post you suggested the City take by eminent domain the Citizens Bank building in Newton Centre for a new Senior Center. I think this could prove a great option to pursue.
I read the message very differently-that they would come back to the community with thoughts about the challenges of the Newton Centre triangle. People on another forum had varying interpretations Of that sentence as well.
In her Sept 26 newsletter, the Mayor promised that the minutes of previous NewCAL working group meetings would be published. As far as I can see, they still have not. How can we have any confidence in this process?
So, what’s next? In light of the intense local (and citywide) objections, it’s time for the administration to remove Albemarle from consideration. While the Newton Center triangle would be a great location for a senior center, I’m guessing that they will decide that it is impractical, or infeasible, or too expensive. Inclusion of that option was likely just a sop to the Albemarle community.
What should be next is a reappraisal of the program for this facility, focusing on the multi-generational aspects of the senior community (think ages 60 to 90), and the coming cohorts of 40 and 50 year olds who will join the ranks over the next decade or more. The process that led to the current set of requirements was deeply flawed. So, ditch the gym (and it’s expandable bleachers), which requires over 10,000 square feet of space. Think about dance studio sized rooms instead. But start by surveying all the potential users, not just a few people who were able to show up for poorly publicized “visioning” sessions.
And let’s only consider sites that are near other amenities that would be used by seniors, e.g., shops, rather than thinking about sites that would give the feeling of being “put out to pasture” in terms of connectness to the community. Private sites have to be in the mix; and maybe there’s the potential for a deal with a private property owner, or (dare I say it?) using eminent domain powers to take a suitable site.
In short, start over. Done right, this senior center will have widespread public support.
And finally, my view is that it should be funded by a debt-exclusion override that also includes rebuilding Gath Pool and several of the deteriorated athletic fields. You’ll get majority votes from every ward in the city and every generation of voters.
@ Paul
I have shared very similar views with the Mayors office in the past.
Full disclosure – I am one of those residents having an ‘allergic reaction’ to siting NewCAL on /in city parks. I am very concerned that Parks have NOT been eliminated from consideration. Over 6,000 Newton residents have already signed petitions to protect our Parks.
The working group for NewCAL provided a great set of data as to what the program could / should be. What they did NOT do was take into account any guardrails (budget, locations, accessibility, scope,, timing, etc). These were considered ‘criteria’ once the group began considering which of the 6 Newton parks [only] would be best suited for development.
As an example from the ‘survey’ data that has been shared publicly; the working group collected a total of 8 comments collected during the course of their listening sessions that indicated a gymnasium would be useful. 8. Out of roughly 90,000 residents … not what I would consider a significant priority.
Since the public meetings are put off now until Jan 16th, I hope that the working group is seriously considering how to best ‘fit’ the program definition and scope with the guardrails and priorities mentioned here. I am skeptical – but hopeful.
We owe it to ourselves to do better.
I couldn’t agree more with @Paul – and while I am flooded with more questions than answers as residents process the sudden cancellation of these community forums, I also want to take a moment to appreciate @Jim and his positive comment. In part thanks to his early and consistent work on this issue, we are not currently surging ahead with building on parkland, and we have multiple elected leaders who are uninterested in doing so.
How do we ensure that parks are no longer considered for building space? How do we propose that override that rebuilds Gath and brings our athletic fields up to par with what residents need and want? Remember – Albemarle has the MOST heavily used athletic field in the entire city in the field along Crafts Street. (This is a fact stated by the Parks & Recreation Commissioner.)
And per the point from @John – how do we support an improved process that sets the senior center project up for success? I love having the senior center in our neighborhood now, see many options for future progress (some of which are on this thread) and truly believe that we can find solutions for a wonderful seniors-only center – or set of centers given that we are 90,000 – that help the entire community grow and thrive.
I have seen this asked this before, but have never seen a response.
Is it feasible to use the green space abutting city hall at the intersection of Comm Ave and Homer?
That land is only used a couple of time per year for community events. Otherwise, I have never seen anyone using it recreationally.
It’s also centrally located, being right at city hall.
Just a thought.
John et al.,
While I’m certain that more than enough Newton residents are now more than vigilant to prevent any further plans to site a new “Senior Center” (which label seems better than the supercilious name of “NewCAL” or “Newton Center for Continued Active Living” — what about Seniors who are sedentary?) in any park, it’s hard to imagine that the Mayor (or any Newton elected official) would pursue a park in the face of the massive public opposition and ensuing lawsuits with injunction. That is, unless any of those elected officials are seeking to end their political careers.
Cedar,
And thanks to you for all your leadership and work.
NewtonResident,
The same public opposition to use of a Newton park I’m certain applies to any city-owned green space.
Location aside (a thorny issue at best), I would be most interested in learning the views of Jayne Colino, the highly respected director of senior services in the city. I see so many arm chair quarterbacks above telling us what the seniors of Newton want and need / don’t need. What does Jayne – who has the best knowledge of this population – think they (we!) need and want?
NativeNewton,
I don’t know Jayne Colino, but if she is in any way responsible for or part of the NewCAL fiasco, with all due respect to her, I don’t think her views have proven to be useful. In fact, counterproductive.
People I know as well as myself have more of a pulse, by a mile, on what is needed and wanted for seniors in Newton, in terms of both the scope of what they need and want, as well as the setting for any facility.
@Jim – you wrote “The same public opposition to use of a Newton park I’m certain applies to any city-owned green space.”
I wouldn’t be so sure of that if it were a relatively small green space not currently being used for much of anything, such as the green off City Hall. I question whether it’s large enough (for a reasonable size Senior Center, not the NewCAL monstrosity), but if it is it might be an interesting idea since it’s located with other community resources.
@Native, Jayne has made outstanding contributions to the community, for sure. On this project, though, the working group has failed to consult properly with the many potential users of the facility(ies).
My impression is that Jayne Colino has an objective to build additional demand for the services and amenities offered through the Senior Center programs vs meeting the current needs. There is a lot of talk about the fact that they want removed the perceived stigma that keeps some seniors from even considering using the Senior Center so that more people will use it. But as someone who is approaching retirement age, my needs and interests are met through other avenues that aren’t age limited. I firmly believe that there is a constituency of Seniors who prefer to hang out with other like minded seniors and don’t want to have to share it with others. And that is completely legit. I can get my needs met by the New Arts Center , the YMCA, a multitude of Meet Up Groups to name a few.
The Senior Center should remain just that….a resourced dedicated to Seniors. They deserve it!
The NewCAL meeting has been rescheduled. The next community meeting is now scheduled for Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 7:00PM in room 111 of the Newton Education Center located at 100 Walnut Street.
Many companies embrace the concept to “Think big, start small, learn fast” and while it typically applies to technology I think it could be a great model for this program.
Start small: Remodel the current center as a phase 1. Make changes that will improve the current center and better align it with longer term goals and objectives (the think big).
Start to plan now for a second center to increase capacity. Make it phase 2. Maybe we end up with three centers (North, Central, South). Yes, there is a desire to have one big center but is that a “must have” for the success of this program? I do not know. I have heard some compelling reasons but do we know that everyone who wants the “one stop shop” represents a large enough group to utilize one mega-size center? Could the current center focus on the needs of the “one center model” and the new center be used for expansion of capacity and new areas of demand?
Look at other cities (in MA and out) with multi-center models and see what has worked well (and not well) for them. Combine that with partnerships with other local entities like the YMCA and Newton could end up with more senior programs than we even thought were possible.
All –
Some very good points being made.
The working group for NewCAL (including Jayne Colino, Josh Morse from the city and some 40 others) have created the ‘program’ that has gotten us to this point.
@JT makes a great point – the working group done the ‘thinking big’ part — which is what I would consider Blue Sky version. What that same working group now needs to do is what many people here are talking about … they need to find priorities that accommodate the realities of locations, budgets, etc. In my previous post, I refer to these as guardrails.
I would totally agree that some combination of space at a few locations could work. At great risk of starting a flame-war:
– Refurbed existing Senior Center in Newtonville
– Newton Parking Triangle
– Citizens Bank location (Newton Center)
– West Newton Armory (office space?)
– Ed Center (NPS property on Walnut) (office space?)
– Space in one or more of the city’s major developments (!)
I am not pretending to have the answer(s), but I know how we could find them.
We, the residents and voters of Newton, have been discussing this new center for so long, at this point, I hope the mayor, the working group and anyone else involved has not only received our various complaints but also understands that many of us think that so far the process has been flawed. I really hate that so much money has been wasted pursuing locating the center at Albemarle.
As usual with the mayor’s newsletters, when it comes to controversial subjects, she uses vague terms that can be interpreted differently by readers so it’s hard to know what the next steps will be for this center. My first step would be to stop using the ridiculous acronym and give it a proper descriptive name – Senior Center, Newton Community Center, Newton Center – oh I guess that name is taken but spelled differently.
I agree with Paul that the best course of action in January would be to rethink the program needs and wants by reaching out to our community of seniors 50 yo +. Only a small percentage can attend community meetings so there needs to be active outreach. Weigh each answer by whether it’s a community need right now or will be in the future.
Then break down the difference between those needs and wants and at first concentrate on the needs – if space and funding can incorporate the wants, then prioritize them and add them to the mix. If carried out transparently involving the community, I think this project could be a win. I could even see a center that serves seniors during the days and others at night, charged a modest fee, to make ends meet.
I like the adage Justin brought from the tech world “think big, start small, learn fast” used in this context. The thinking big has been accomplished, now go back and start small and learn what will work fast.
There are many quotes about the difference between theory and practice. What we have now is purely theoretical but it’s success in reality is dependent upon how well the future projections reflect the valid data selected. So get back to the fundamentals and make sure that from now on the specifics of the program are based on valid data.
The mayor needs to see that the promised minutes are posted.
I am a huge fan of the Citizen’s Bank location but do not think the City should go the path of eminent domain. Is there any skill at City Hall to negotiate creatively? I fear not because there either isn’t the desire or isn’t the skill.
Does the owner of that property own other properties in Newton? If so, could the city offer tax breaks on those properties in partial payment for the property?
Could the City help relocate the tenants with subsidies?
Could the City offer the major tenant, Citizens Bank, a rent free space for a small branch in the building that would be an amenity to Seniors? Could the City offer to brand the Senior Center the Citizens Bank Senior Center?
While I like the Newton Centre Triangle location, I think the prospect of building an underground parking facility is financially a non-starter. The Citizens Bank location would come with ample off street parking which must be included in any financial analysis.
Claire- Great ideas! You truly think outside the box. I believe the Citizens Bank building in Newton Centre is the best location for a new Senior Center. There is little or no support for a NewCAL. That idea must be abandon due to fiscal realities.
Haven’t we learned a lesson with the construction and price tag of a new Newton North?
Peter & Claire,
Yes, I did recently suggest on V14 the City’s acquisition of Newton Center’s Citizen Bank Building for a Senior Center.
https://village14.com/2019/11/07/a-senior-center-for-seniors/#axzz65wd1X500
To date, have heard nothing from the City. It would be nice if the City, through the Mayor or some other official, could follow up on this suggestion or at least inform V14 readers whether the City would or would not (with reasons) consider this or if it has approached (informal or otherwise) that building’s owner(s).
How bout it Mayor Fuller? I think the acquisition cost plus retrofit of this perfectly sized and perfectly located existing structure could potentially cost significantly less than other options, with the understanding that the City adheres to the already conveyed preference of the vast majority of Newton residents, including seniors, and scales back NewCAL to a Senior Center.
Jim Epstein, with all due respect, I believe I was the first person to suggest the Citizens Bank location.
https://village14.com/2019/09/25/mayor-asks-working-group-to-re-access-newcal-sites-including-newton-centre-triangle/#axzz668mZqjhG
I also spoke to it at the NEWCal meeting at the NEWCal public meeting held at the Education Center meeting in October. I appreciate your advocacy for the idea 🙂
My suggestion for 9/25
“Claire on September 25, 2019 at 8:05 pm
I’m not surprised. Public sentiment was very clear. As a resident of Newton Centre I would love to see us host a new Senior Centre but not a NEWCal type community/recreational center. I am not a fan of the Newton Centre Triangle as I envision that being turned into a green space..perhaps a public garden.
I have posted this before but will do again. The current location of the Citizen’s Bank Building is just about perfect. Strike a deal with the Bank to brand it the Citizen’s Bank Senior Center at Newton Centre. Entice them with some great free publicity and some tax breaks. Let them locate a branch in the building
Another NC option is the building that houses the Health Department as a second location and renovate the existing Senior Centre.
A third option is the vacated Container Store building at Street.
So many possibilities!!
Additional thought on using the Citizen’s Bank building. I assume everyone knows that Citizens has another branch on Beacon Street at four corners. About a mile away from the one in Newton Center. I’ve never figured out yet how any bank can justify the cost of so many branches so close to each other.
Do Banks benefit from random “walk in” customers? When I use the ATM at the BofA Waban branch I think I’ve seen more customers than employees there a few times, but it’s rare.
Justin, Citizen’s Bank doesn’t own that building even though it is branded as such. So they shouldn’t care if their landlord changes. If the new landlord (the city) offered incentives, they might actually advocate for the change.
A banks ROI, in regards to the economics of a branch location, isn’t based on traffic or transactions. It is basically a big billboard. It is about branding and PR