By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – The suitability of two locations for a new Senior Center, judged by Mayor Arthur Vigeant's Site Advisory Committee as meeting the criteria for maximum suitability, was presented to the City Council April 9.
The two sites are 525 Maple St., site of the former Registry of Motor Vehicles building; and the West Meeting House, 86 Pleasant St. Eliminated from the list of available properties being considered were 40 Mechanic St. and 165 Forest St.; both were declared “not advantageous.”
Attached to the mayor's request to the council was a communication from Chief Procurement Officer Beverly Sleeper, listing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for the purchase of leases on each property. Vigeant has asked the council to review the findings of the Advisory Committee as John Ghiloni, the director of public facilities, also looks over the two proposed sites in greater detail in preparation for a final recommendation to the council.
According to Sleeper, “The proposal received for 525 Maple Street was identified as the most highly advantageous proposal offering the lowest purchase price and lease-purchase price for vacant land.”
She further stated, “The proposal received for 86 Pleasant Street was identified as the most highly advantageous proposal offering the lowest purchase price and lease- purchase price for property consisting of an existing building.”
A proposal rendered by Metrowest Commercial Real Estate for the 86 Pleasant St. property, considered by the committee to be the best option if the building is declared structurally sound, quoted a purchase price of $965,000. Parsons Commercial Group, Inc. proposed a price of $1.2 million for the 525 Maple St. site, which includes 1.84 acres with more than 70 parking spaces.
Before becoming mayor, as a City Councilor, Vigeant proposed the West Meeting House as a possible location for the Senior Center. He stressed that the 12,000 square foot historic building, situated in the city's French Hill neighborhood, has ample parking and is located along a local bus route. Last winter, he hosted an open house at the old church, where he invited seniors to tour the building and provide feedback and suggestions.
James Confrey, chair of the Council on Aging (COA), also held a special meeting last fall where the mayor, City Council and the city's seniors heard a formal presentation of changes the COA is suggesting for the new Senior Center. Those changes include additional and adequate space for administrative offices, programs, events and storage; handicap accessibility, plentiful parking and a transportation plan.