Above: Residents are still sought to help determine the fate of the South Union School Building, especially neighbors within a half mile of the property. (images cropped from Town tweet and contributed)
In September, at least 130 residents signed a petition asking the Town to halt talk of selling 21 Highland Street. They called for a committee to be formed, that included neighbors, to study the situation. The Select Board agreed to the plan — but apparently no neighbors have volunteered to serve on it as of yet, and the committee lacks a quorum to get going with its work.
It also still lacks an at-large member to represent residents throughout town.
If you apply and reach out quickly, there might be time to get on the Select Board’s agenda to be appointed for their meeting this Tuesday.*
Residents interested in volunteering can fill out an online form (with an option to upload a resume) here.
As I previously posted, the Select Board voted in October to approve the charge of a new ad hoc committee to study and make recommendations on how the municipal property, and the historic South Union School Building situated on it, should be used.
It follows up on the request by petitioners to explore:
options for the future of the property, including the existing problems and how it might be envisioned to serve the neighborhood and town in the future.
Petitioners explained that they were concerned about the Select Board’s discussion of potentially selling the property or pursuing a project to converting the building and/or its surrounding land for affordable housing use. They wrote:
This is a generational piece of property that once lost will not be replaceable to the community that surrounds it, uses it, and enjoys it. . .
This property is appreciated, utilized, beloved, and critical to the Cordaville neighborhood in Southborough. We are very excited to keep this property as a thriving community space.
In October, the board approved a committee with the the following description and charge for the committee:
Background:
The South Union School is currently being used to house the Recreation Department and Youth and Family Services. The building is in fair condition, and is energy inefficient. It is likely that in 4-5 years the building will become surplus to the anticipated needs of the municipal side of Town Government, provided that a different building becomes available to the town in the form of either a school or other building.
The Select Board would like to develop alternative uses of the building to, if practical, preserve it.
Charge:
There shall be an Ad Hoc Committee established to make recommendations related to the future use of the South Union School. The committee’s charge shall expire on June 30, 2024. The committee shall be guided as follows:
1. The committee may make recommendations related to the town-owned property at the site provided that:
a. The playground must be maintained. If necessary, it may be moved.
b. The sledding hill must be maintained.
2. Parking for the playground and any future use must be provided.
3. The committee may consider uses that would require faster conversion than the 4-5 year timeframe envisions. If considered a plan should be developed for the rehousing of the existing occupants.
4. Any future use of the building that requires regular occupancy must bring the building up to modern energy efficiency standards and building codes.
5. The committee may make use of the technical resources of the town in its deliberations provided that the provision of said resources are approved by either the Town Administrator or the Select Board.
6. The committee should attempt to find alternative sources of funding for any proposed use. The committee should be mindful that any request for taxpayer funding must be judged against other competing priorities. The committee is reminded that other neighborhoods in our town have far fewer public amenities (playgrounds, parks, open space) than exist in this neighborhood.
The committee shall make an interim report to the Select Board no later than Jan 1, 2024, and an interim recommendation no later than May 15, 2024. Said reports shall cover alternative uses that will enjoy broad community support. The committee shall hold at least one public forum related to its recommendations.
I shared the opportunity with readers in October. In January, the Town made an effort to advertise the position (which I also shared). But according to member, Kevin Miller (who represents the Historical Commission) they are still without resident volunteers and lack a quorum.
Miller hopes that the quorum issue will be addressed tonight, since picking a representative is on the Open Space Preservation Committee’s agenda. They already have seats filled for the other groups being represented, which also include the Planning Board and Recreation Commission.
But even if quorum is fixed, Miller is advocating that the committee should have voices from that area of town. He shared the map (right), hoping it would spark something with people who recognize they live within the circle.
If you are interested in applying, click here.
*The Select Board’s most recent agenda included their schedule to meet on March 4th and March 19th. But, sometimes other quick meetings pop up in between the big ones.
