Harvard residents again crowded the old library on Saturday, Feb. 27, for a second charrette to evaluate a range of long-term scenarios for the town center. The meeting began with reports from members of the Municipal Buildings Task Force on various questions that had arisen at the previous meeting on Jan. 30.

Chairman Ron Ostberg explained that one conclusion the task force had drawn from the earlier meeting was that residents see the town center as “the focus of civic, social, and religious life.” As a result, the scenarios emphasize those factors more than retail or commercial possibilities.

Selectman Peter Warren reported that the deeds to the buildings under consideration—the old library and the Hildreth property—seem amenable to a change of usage, if approved by a town meeting. He also noted that Meg Delorier had offered the assistance of MassDevelopment’s grant writer in finding financial support for proposed projects.

Pat Jennings told the group that members of the task force, the COA director, and board members had toured the church and the rectory at St. Theresa’s. Should the buildings become available, she said, they would offer two very large meeting rooms (one with a kitchen), office space, living space, and a sizeable parking lot.

As the previous charrette had shown strong interest in an arts center, Maggie Green had researched such centers in other towns. In looking at examples from Westford, Maynard, Concord, and Lexington, she found that the towns generally kept ownership of the buildings but leased them and set parameters for their use by arts groups.

In response to suggestions from the earlier meeting about creating a small-business center, selectwoman Lucy Wallace talked to a commercial realtor about the current demand for business space. She reported that the demand for commercial space is lagging, and the supply of office space is currently high; moreover, most businesses prefer new buildings to older ones.

Jim Saalfield (left) discusses the need for a townwide assessment of space needs as Sharon McCarthy, Cary Browse, Kathy Jackson, Angela Gaffney, and Lyn Horowitz listen. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)

After these reports, the Municipal Buildings Task Force presented the group with five possible scenarios, based on ideas generated at the Jan. 30 meeting. (See sidebar.) The more than 60 people present then broke into working groups to evaluate the benefits and liabilities of each scenario. Sustained by coffee and pastries, the buzz of conversation sometimes rose to an emphatic rumble, but never to an angry roar.

Scenarios 1 and 2 offered the fewest changes, essentially reshuffling services among existing buildings. Each scenario assumes that one of the older buildings will be sold or leased to save the town maintenance costs and perhaps generate revenue. Even these scenarios, however, would require some substantial renovation of the two remaining buildings, to bring them into compliance with current standards.

Scenarios 3 and 4 were more ambitious. Both were predicated on eventually acquiring the St. Theresa’s property, turning the old library into a community center, and selling or leasing the Hildreth property. The two scenarios differed as to whether Town Hall should undergo minimal change or should be extensively renovated and expanded, with the restoration of the second-floor stage and meeting room.

From left: Sharon Briggs, Di Newton, Jackie Normand, Helen Hill, and Tim Firment sum up ideas about a community center at a second charrette held Feb. 27 to discuss municipal building use in the center of town. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)

Scenario 5 was both the most far-reaching and the least specific, with plans for the creation of a new town “campus” linking an expanded Town Hall and the Hildreth property. Participants characterized the idea as an extension of the town Common to include a park-like area around buildings that accommodated meeting rooms, a community center, and the Council on Aging.

In the course of discussion, Jim Saalfield seemed to speak for many when he called for a town-wide assessment of space needs, not limited to the three buildings that the task force was charged with evaluating. Several people pointed out that meeting space was especially tight in the town right now, with both the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship Building and the Congregational Church undergoing renovation.

Another idea with widespread support called for a mixed-use community center, in which the arts might share space with other activities. Ostberg noted that the town’s older buildings date from an era when each was expected to serve one specific function. “We tend to think more about mixed use and distributed use,” he pointed out, adding that mixing uses can lead to greater vitality, convenience, and cost-saving.

Several people also urged the town to consider extending the Historic District to encompass the Hildreth property, so that the character of the property would be protected, even if the building were sold or leased.

For funding these changes, the group considered the usual ideas of grants and donations, but also income from the potential sale or lease of either the Hildreth property or the old library. Another suggestion was prompt participation in the Green Communities program, which is offering substantial funds in the immediate future.

To carry the planning forward, Sharon McCarthy suggested, “If each of us engaged five of our neighbors in conversation or in a coffee, we could create conversations with a whole lot more people and involve them.”

The Municipal Buildings Task Force will continue to meet regularly, with times posted on the town website. The public is encouraged to attend.

The next forum is March 22 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall meeting room.