August 16, 2023 By Carol Britton Meyer
Following the presentation of five alternatives for locating the town’s planned new Center for Active Living (formerly called the Senior Center), the Select Board narrowed the process to two options to be studied — an expansion and renovation of the current facility at Town Hall and Bare Cove Park.
Other possibilities presented by Town Administrator Tom Mayo included the driving range off Union Street, a parcel of land on Beal Street owned by the Select Board, and the National Guard property on Central Street.
Town Meeting earlier approved broadening the purpose of the 2020 appropriation of $525,000 initially earmarked for preliminary design work to expand and renovate the current Senior Center and a related feasibility study to include consideration of potential alternative sites for new construction.
The current 5,000-square-foot center could be expanded to 15,000-square feet once the police department moves into the new public safety facility off Rte. 3A currently under construction. Parking issues would also need to be addressed.
Mayo said that a combination of some or all of the existing Bare Cove Park buildings currently used for School Department, DPW, and Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant storage, the Bare Cove Fire Museum, and the South Shore Model Railway Club “could be improved to support the Senior Center mission. In addition, the surrounding BCP property could be incorporated into programming for older residents.
BCP — which is managed by the Bare Cove Park Committee — offers access to the water, trail networks, nature programs, and other offerings and would not be the first center for seniors located in parkland, Mayo said after speaking to a representative from the National Park Service.
While the Armory is ideally situated near downtown Hingham and other amenities and is close by the Lincoln Apartments housing for seniors, board member William Ramsey — who has been involved with discussions with the National Guard over a number of years about the town possibly acquiring the property — said he doesn’t think the town “would own the building anytime soon. It might never happen.” For that reason, this option is no longer under consideration.
South Shore Country Club Management Committee Chair Christine Smith asked whether the town-owned former light plant property on Cushing Street and the SSCC were considered as possible sites for the new center.
Mayo explained that the Cushing Street location is too small and that SSCC “already has significant parking issues.”
Ramsey noted that the preference of older residents he has talked with seems to be split between Bare Cove Park and the current Town Hall location.
The board unanimously approved consideration of these two sites only and will update the Senior Center Building Committee of its decision so the process can move forward.
The goal is to bring the project to fruition as soon as is feasible.
Watch for further details.