The Massachusetts Architectural Access Board granted the town a variance this week to allow the back entrance of the old library to be temporarily used as an accessible entrance, according to Mark Mikitarian, chairman of the Old Library Access Committee. The committee is currently working with Abacus Architects and Planners to come up with a design and cost estimate to restore the original center entrance to the library and to add a ramp to make that entrance accessible.
In the meantime, after some minor modifications to the back door, the variance allows the old library to be used for a period of three years, with the understanding that the town is working on a plan for a single public accessible entrance in front of the building. Mikitarian said the access board was very accommodating, and the committee is pleased with the outcome. “It’s encouraging that the town has cleared this first milestone, which will allow progress toward the longer term goal of restoring the front entrance of the old library and making it accessible to everyone,” Mikitarian said.
According to Mikitarian, Abacus is working on a design draft for the front entrance, and it has also done a walkthrough of the interior of the building to determine what further upgrades would be necessary to make the building fully compliant with the access board’s regulations. The committee will meet with Abacus July 11 to review the design, and a final design with cost estimates will be available in August. The committee will then meet with the Historical Commission to get its input on the design. It also plans to pursue any grant opportunities that could offset the cost of the project to the town.
Lucy Wallace, the selectmen’s liaison to the committee, told the Press that a request to fund the project could go before the town as early as a Special Town Meeting this fall.
Turning over the keys to HCC
In March, the town agreed to lease the old library to the Harvard Cultural Collaborative for a period of three years, contingent on the building either being made accessible or the town obtaining a variance from the Architectural Access Board. Cultural Collaborative Chairwoman Jan Daley told the Press that over the past few months, the group has been busy working on securing insurance, creating policies and procedures, and setting up financial and volunteer management systems.
Now that the variance has been granted, Daley said, the collaborative will focus on creating a list of tasks that need to be done to get the building ready for occupancy, and residents should watch for invitations to some “spirited cleaning and painting parties.” The group is also putting together a wish list for material donations to furnish and maintain the building, and registration drives for volunteers to staff the building will begin in a few months. When the building is “spruced up” and ready for touring, Daley said, the collaborative will look for service providers interested in renting space for classes, meetings, art exhibits, and so on, and it hopes to have its grand opening in the old library in the fall.
