MBC reports on planning and progress
Municipal Buildings Committee (MBC) members Ron Ostberg and Willie Wickman reported to the Board of Selectmen at its Aug. 17 meeting on the committee’s efforts to develop plans for the reuse and renovation of Town Hall, the old library, and the Hildreth House. They reported that MBC members had visited centers for community and arts programming in several surrounding towns to help model the use of the old library for Harvard residents. They also announced a pilot project the committee believes will answer questions about how to make that building self-funding while, at the same time, satisfying the needs of Harvard’s residents. The pilot study, which begins Tuesday, Aug. 24, will collect data on attendance, weekly and monthly rental revenue, activities and programming requested and provided, feedback from attendees and providers, daily, weekly, and monthly operating expenses, and volunteer hours.
The MBC will host a meeting Tuesday, Aug. 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the old library, to accept public input on its plans and to discuss any other ideas residents might have for the reuse of that building.
BOS starts discussion on strategy for working with MassDev on Devens Vicksburg Square redevelopment
Harvard Selectman Ron Ricci, chairman of the Joint Boards of Selectmen’s Vicksburg Square Subcommittee, began a brainstorming session on how Harvard might develop a strategy for working with MassDevelopment and a developer, Trinity Financial, on the redevelopment of Vicksburg Square at Devens.
Ricci reported that, at a meeting last week, other subcommittee members expressed strong sentiments about maintaining the current (incubator) zoning for Vicksburg Square. Ricci pointed out that this was problematic because the proposal from Trinity Financial is for affordable housing, not small business incubator space.
BOS Chairman Peter Warren reported that he had asked Ricci and Selectwoman Marie Sobalvarro, who is also on the subcommittee, to contact and meet with representatives from Trinity Financial to begin establishing a working relationship with the firm.
Selectman Tim Clark commented, “I’ve been nothing but disappointed by the lack of engagement by MassDevelopment and the developer.”
Selectman Bill Johnson said he wasn’t “convinced that Trinity considers the towns their customer.” Johnson suggested that the town “take the initiative to establish a forum” on what it wants from Vicksburg Square’s redevelopment.
