City manager details community center feasibility study; councilor urges action over more study
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
City manager reported a feasibility study (earmarked and locally matched) for the proposed Chelsea Intergenerational Recreation Community Center; one councilor criticized repeated studies and urged moving to implementation rather than more delays.
The city manager transmitted an update on the Chelsea Intergenerational Recreation Community Center, describing the work funded by a state earmark and a local match and noting that architects (BH Plus A) and consultants have compiled a survey with over 200 responses to inform site selection and programming. The communication lists four potential sites (none city-owned) and said a preliminary feasibility report with site rankings, conceptual options and operational considerations will be shared with the council soon.
At the meeting a councilor who has pressed for the center for years criticized the pace, saying the effort has produced repeated studies over 14 years without construction: "It's time this needs to be done now... stop the study and do what you gotta do." Other councilors and the manager emphasized the need for site control and completion of environmental and cost assessments; the manager noted the goal of completing site assessments and cost estimates over the next two years.
The city will share a finalized feasibility report and site rankings with the council, and staff said further public engagement and planning steps will follow before any construction appropriation or site acquisition.
Sources: City manager communications and council discussion during communications portion of the meeting.