This past week through the Harvard Press we learned that the cost to renovate our Town Hall had risen approximately 28 percent to $5 million.
Over the last two years there have been multiple opinions, disagreements, and agreements over how to proceed with our Town Hall facilities. Our citizens have debated this building over and over again with excellent points presented by both sides. Included in this process were multiple town forums with respectable attendance. There were those wanting us to build a new town hall; those who wanted a basic renovation to address the issues of deferred maintenance and the ability to meet current code requirements; move the town offices to a renovated old library; and those who wanted the building totally renovated to meet the future needs of a full spectrum of town government and other community social needs. The Town Hall Building Committee brought forth a plan that was approved at the Annual Town Meeting and at the ballot box.
The 1999 Harvard Town Center Study stated “Harvard Center is the municipal, cultural and institutional heart of Harvard.” Our Town Hall stands proud at the top of the hill and continues to serve our residents from this site. Since it is located within the Town Center Historic District, the possibility of tearing it down and building a new town hall has in my opinion very little chance of being approved.
Financially, if this project does not move forward now, the outcome for the future will be a more expensive project. The original time frame for construction did not happen, for whatever reason, and the economy has started moving forward. This has already affected the cost of this or any other future project.
I recall at a June 1974 Special Town Meeting a two-story fire station at a cost of $350,000 was rejected. That November a revised one-story station was proposed and voted for at a cost of $300,000. I understand in the next few years a second floor for the building may be proposed. I think that cost could exceed a million dollars. That 1974 decision was penny wise and pound foolish.
The cost today includes financing at a low rate of interest. What might the rate be for any future project? If we were to build a new town hall somewhere else or reconsider the use of the old library, we would still be faced with addressing the cost of deferred maintenance on our existing Town Hall. More importantly, what would this building then be used for? What will be the per-square-foot cost the next time around? I believe if we go back to the drawing board, any future costs will exceed the bids of today.
I am disappointed at the events that have transpired. I see no alternative but to proceed and I ask you to vote in favor at the October 16th Town Meeting to proceed with this long overdue project.
Peter E. Warren
Lancaster County Road
