HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-01-09 Historical Commission MinutesIEL;EWEO
TO CLERK
" ~"ADIING, MASS.
Reading Historical Commission Minutes
9 January 2003 16,03 FEB 18 P 2: 21
Attending: Virginia Adams Louise Sandberg
Roberta Sullivan Clay Jones
Sharlene Santo Kendra Cooper, filming
Wilbar Hoxie Pat Greichen
Russ Graham, School bldg. Comm.
Mark Cardono Sally List
Call to order: 7:30
The commission has asked Mr. Graham to a meeting to review the plans for the High
school building and keep up to speed on the progress. Ultimately we will need to sign
off on the project.
Mr. Graham talked about the project. The SBC had researched the building and feel
there is no historical significance attached to the present high school building. He also
feels that the community as a whole, and alumni as well, have little affection for the
building. Cost efficiency in the building is of primary importance. The tower was built
as an architectural statement of the times and present Reading residents are divided in
its aesthetics. Roberta mentioned that RMHS was the first new high school built in
Massachusetts after the 2nd WorldWar. The architects were prominent local architects,
Adden, Parker, Clinch & Crimp. Roberta also feels that the name of the high school
should remain "memorial" after veterans. A rough estimate of repair of the present
building would cost in excess of $16,000,000. A new building would be updated to
present technology and adapted to present day state mandated education.
Some of the original plans are available.
Option 3 (the option preferred by the SBC at this time) would be using 55% of the
present buildings. None of the renovated part would be the 1952 portion, but would
include the field house and building C. Option 2 and 3 were more desirable because the
phasing will be easier. The process will be voted on next week.
After Mr. Graham left, Roberta made the statement that she feels the entire building
will come down. Roberta wants the commission to put the building on the inventory.
She thinks it will give the commission the right to participate fully in the process and
adequately document the structure. Clays feels we can do all that without putting it on
the inventory. Clay suggested we wait until our March meeting to decide whether we
put the building on the inventory.
Adjourned 9:05 Approved as amended Feb. 4, 2003.
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