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Commissioners discuss options for 21 Highland as youth and family services prepare to move
Summary
With youth and family services expected to relocate next spring or summer, the Recreation Commission discussed short-term capital improvements and potential re-purposing of 21 Highland for expanded programming, offices and meeting space; facilities director funding may cover HVAC split-level work.
Commissioners used the Nov. 6 meeting to update each other on 21 Highland, the town-owned property under review for multiple potential uses. Committee members said select board discussions have included preschool uses and possible transfer or lease, and several commissioners said the matter has been discussed largely "behind the scenes" in recent years.
Travis, Recreation staff, said youth and family services are likely to move out in the spring or summer, which would free space that recreation could use. He outlined low-cost, near-term improvements facilities has funds for: split-level HVAC upgrades to make the third floor habitable through winter and to avoid excessive summer heat on that floor. "John, facilities director John Parent, has some money left over," Travis said, noting facilities could fund the work so the department would not bear the cost.
Commissioners also discussed longer-term options that have been previously considered, including leasing portions of the building to committees or nonprofits, renting meeting space, and potential sale proposals raised in prior years. Several commissioners said the building had previously been the subject of an RFP for affordable housing that produced only one bid and was later withdrawn. The commission agreed to track select board activity more closely and to develop a short list of recreational capital improvements that would improve programming capacity should space become available.
