Photo by Maureen Sullivan
WESTBOROUGH – For the past few weeks, the idea of the town purchasing the building at 1500 Union St. for a community center has evolved.
What started as a bunch of “what ifs” and “maybes” has become clearer, as the public receives more information about the proposal.
Town Manager Kristi Williams has been traveling around town, making presentations about the center and fielding questions along the way.
The community center would be located in a building currently occupied by Boston Sports Club. In past presentations, town officials have said the center could be the new home of the Senior Center and Recreation Department. Purchasing the building is set to come before Town Meeting Oct. 16.
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On Tuesday, Oct. 3, the first public information session took place at Memorial Hall. More than three dozen residents heard the latest updates and even viewed a virtual tour produced by Westborough TV.
There were several questions around the purchase price – $8.8 million – and how it was negotiated between the town and the site’s owner, Grossman Development Group.
One resident said the town is offering too much for the site.
“We’re going to be the anchor for the place,” he said. “They should give it to us … We’re the only offer on the table.”
Select Board member Ian Johnson replied that the “town has gone through the negotiating process” and that if the resident objected to the purchase price, he could vote against it at Town Meeting.
Another resident asked about the size of the Senior Center should it move to Union Street. Williams said the Senior Center would have “dedicated space” on the first floor, and share programs with the Recreation Department on the second floor.
Williams added that should the Senior Center move, the site at Rogers Road would be put up for sale; the Affordable Housing Trust is interested in the site, she said.
Another resident, Margaret Schofield, said the current senior center has plenty of space, and going into the first floor of the building, with 31,000 square feet, is “outrageous.”
Johnson replied that because of the size of the current center, the number and size of programs are limited.
“Seniors want more services,” said Select Board Chair Sean Keogh.
The fit up and other possible costs
The great unknown remains the cost of fitting up the building should the purchase be approved at Town Meeting on Monday, Oct. 16.
The costs would be determined during the community engagement process.
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Williams said the fit up could include a commercial kitchen, computer room, café, game room, computer lab or a walking track.
She added that potential funding sources for the fit up could come from the sale of real estate (the account currently has about $1.8 million); payments from Pulte, which can be used for affordable housing or to support seniors (account currently has about $2 million); or from Community Preservation Act funds.
The two articles
There will be two articles regarding the proposed community center:
Article 3 will ask residents to authorize the Select Board to purchase 1500 Union St. The purchase price would be $8.8 million, to be covered by a 20-year bond at 5 percent interest.
Article 4 will seek to transfer a sum from free cash to cover due diligence, schematic design and other fees. According to information provided by Williams, the costs would include $85,000 for public engagement and schematic design (visioning workshops, review and analysis of current building, etc.); $75,350 for estimated maintenance and utilities, development of conceptual design, and preliminary cost for fit-up; $20,000 for estimated due diligence, for a total of $180,350.
The total tax impact for the average single-family home, starting in fiscal 2025, would be $180.84.
Members of the Select Board pointed out that should the purchase be approved, and something comes up during due diligence, the purchase could be stopped.
Town Meeting will convene at 7 p.m. at the high school auditorium. The FAQ sheet and other information are available via the town’s website, https://www.westboroughma.gov/