In its quest to find more space for its senior center, Council on Aging board members came across a new option last week—the empty medical office building at 16 Lancaster County Road. At the Feb. 2 Select Board meeting, members discussed what the steps to buy or lease the building might be in case any funding were needed from Spring Town Meeting to initiate that process. Warrant articles requesting money are due Feb. 12.
First though, the Council on Aging would have to decide if it wants to give up on its plan for the so-called Phase 2 addition, a stand-alone building to be built next to Hildreth House to provide a large space for dining and activities. The $4.3 million project was voted down at Annual Town Meeting and the ballot box last year, but the plan is scheduled to be considered again in 2022.
The Lancaster County Road building formerly housed pediatric practices—Concord Hillside Medical Associates followed by Harvard Vanguard. It has been vacant since 2018 and is available for lease or for sale. Council on Aging board member Guy Oliva said the owner is asking between $1.2 and $1.4 million for the building.
While it is currently outfitted for medical offices, the building has 5,600 square feet of space, compared with 4,790 square feet of indoor space in the proposed Phase 2 addition. It’s a single-story clapboard building built in 1995, with gas heat and central air conditioning, and a new roof, installed last year. The parking lot would hold about 30 cars, roughly the same as the Hildreth House lot, but the owner told Oliva he also owns the building next door and could make parking available there for large events. It’s unclear how much land, if any, would come with the building, as the assessor’s map shows a single 10.4-acre parcel that contains both 12 and 16 Lancaster County Road.
Three COA members toured the building on Jan. 25, and Oliva said they were optimistic it could be a cheaper, and thus more realistic, option than the Phase 2 addition. The interior space would need to be reconfigured to support COA offices and a large dining/activities room similar to the one in the Phase 2 design. It would also need a kitchen and one or two more wheelchair-accessible bathrooms.
Assistant Town Administrator Marie Sobalvarro told the board that the town cannot simply put an offer on the building or lease it; instead, it must adhere to the state’s procurement laws. To do that, the COA needs to give Sobalvarro a list of requirements for the space they’re searching for, and she will issue a request for proposals. When responses come back, the COA would make its choice based on price and criteria met. An article would then come to Town Meeting asking to fund leasing or purchasing the building. Select Board member Lucy Wallace said the COA should also poll those who use Hildreth House to determine if they would be willing to leave it behind.
The board voted to add a placeholder warrant article for Spring Town Meeting so funds for a renovation estimate would be available when RFP responses come in. A number is needed in the next week, though, so Oliva said he will ask DAI Architects, the firm that designed Phase 2, to give him a ballpark figure. Oliva did not want to run afoul of procurement laws though, so he asked Sobalvarro if he could offer to buy the architects breakfast for their help. Sobalvarro said yes, “as long as you’re not promising anything.” Wallace said she would work with the COA board on the RFP criteria.
