The past few months have been very productive and we have much to report. See below for information on the permitting process, the Massachusetts Historical Commission agreement and the construction status.
~The Wellesley School Building Committee
Permitting Process Complete
After many months of hard work and dedicated efforts, we are happy to report that the process of submitting, reviewing and obtaining all the necessary permits for construction of the new high school has been completed. The project architects (SMMA), the Project Manager (Ryegate), the Permanent Building Committee and others have attended over 60 public permitting sessions, involving the Board of Selectmen, the Planning Board, the Design Review Board, the Wetlands Protection Committee, the Natural Resources Committee and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
There are numerous conditions of the permits which will be met. The Orders of Conditions have been filed at the Registry of Deeds and the appeals periods have passed.
The PBC continues to work closely with the Project Manager and SMMA to ensure all conditions and requirements are met.
Resolution with Massachusetts Historical Commission
Last week, we received the final Memorandum of Agreement between the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the MSBA, the Wellesley Historical Commission, the PBC and the SBC. In sum, the parties have consulted and agree that construction and demolition will proceed as planned with certain stipulations in order to mitigate the adverse effect to historic resources.
The Agreement outlines the mitigation items which include:
1. |
Documentation/recordation, original architectural drawings and meeting minutes from the Wellesley Senior High School Building Committee from the period 1936 to 1940 for archival purposes; |
2. |
Photography and Audio Video of 1938 building; |
3. |
Architectural salvage to identify and remove distinctive architectural features of the 1938 building and incorporate them into the new design where feasible; |
4. |
Space to be included in the library of the new high school to display artifacts from the 1938 High School; and, |
5. |
Substantive future changes during design or construction of the new building, as viewable from Seaver Street, will be submitted to the MHC for review and comment. |
Beginning in December, the Historical Preservation Working Group (formed by the SBC) worked to inventory items in the current high school to be preserved by incorporation into the new building. The inventory of items is now complete, including elements on both the inside and outside of the building and some of the landscaping.
The Memorandum of Agreement was the first such agreement under the new MSBA regulations and we appreciate the time and effort of all parties to reach a final resolution.
Construction Update
Initial permits were obtained in early July and construction started on the three off-site parking lots. The lots will be completed in the next two weeks in time for the start of school on September 2nd. Details are provided in the Parking and Access Map and Visitor and Event Parking Information.
Following completion of the parking lots, construction will begin on the preparation, excavation of utilities and earthwork associated wit the new building. Turner Construction has set up an email notification system which provides updates on construction activity. To sign-up, send your email address to TurnerWHS@tcco.com requesting addition to the list.
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SBC Members
Katherine L. Babson, Jr. Chairman Selectmen Representative
Steve Baker Citizen-Architect
Tom Goemaat Citizen-Contractor
Steve Gagosian Permanent Building Committee (PBC) Representative
Kathy MacDonald Advisory Committee Representative
John Moran Town Facilities Director
Hans Larsen Town Executive Director
Suzy Littlefield School Committee Representative
Kathy Mullaney PBC Projects Administrator
Cynthia Westerman Citizen-Project Manager
Bella Wong Superintendent of Schools
Andrew Keough WHS Principal
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