HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-05-30 ad Hoc Police Station Building Committee Minutes1 0 "s
POLICE STATION BUILDING COMMITTEi " 4 ¢
MINUTES FOR MEETING ON 05-30-96L 15 7 F; 1JJ
MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Lt. Robert Silva, Wilbar Hoxie, Bill Lavoie, Paul Peoples, David
Schurman, James Cormier, Loretta Raffi. Local resident, Bill Bogaert.
MEETING: On May 30, 1996 the Police Station Building Committee met at the Reading Senior Center
on Pleasant St.. The meeting was called to order by Lt. Silva, the committee chairman, at 7:00pm.
The committee began with a discussion regarding the major problems with operating the police
department during renovations of the existing building, The committee discussed surrounding
communities who may have had experience with this, but determined that any surrounding communities
who have new facilities, moved to them and vacated their old stations, they did not remodel or renovate.
There was also discussion about the disruptions to the neighborhood regarding traffic and staging areas
etc.. Included in this discussion also was the possibility of attempting to operate the station without cells
for a period of time. This discussion focused on the committee's position on two possible sites, the Union
St. lot and the existing site along with other land. The committee feels the Union St. lot is the preferred
site.
The committee then discussed future meeting dates, the committee will meet at the Reading
Senior Center on June 13, 1996 at 7:00pm. The committee will then meet with the Selectmen on June
18,1996 at the Town Hall. The time for the meeting with the selectmen has yet to be determined.
Loretta Raffi updated the committee regarding a meeting with the Middlesex Board of Realtors
about the possible sale of property on Union St..
The committee reviewed a report received from The Preservation Partnership, Max Ferrro,
regarding estimated budgets for two potential sites, the existing site with additional land and the Union St.
lot with additional land. The report also outlined some potential advantages to the Union St. lot site.
The committee had a discussion venting frustration at having done a lot of work and having
brought to the town a recommendation, and now having to wait before moving forward.
The committee will monitor the Union St. lot and gather data on its current usage.
The committee voted to accept the Annual Report of The Police Station Building Committee by
a vote of 6-0-0. The committee will make the report available to the Town Manager, and the Selectmen
prior to the June 18,19996 meeting with the selectmen. The motion to accept the report was made by
Wilbar Hoxie, and seconded by Paul Peoples.
Adjournment at 9:00pm.
6-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Letter of Transmittal
LOCUS MAP
REPORT
EXHIBITS
A BUILDING PROGRAM
Architect Max Ferro
PRELIMINARY CONSTRUCTION BUDGET
Architect Max Ferro
ANALYSIS of POSSIBLE SITES:
Cl ANALYSIS of POSSIBLE SITES - November 1995
Architect Max Ferro
C2 RANKING of POSSIBLE SITES - April 1996
Police Station Building Committee
GRAPHIC ANALYSIS of UNION STREET SITE IN RELATION
TO DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION and PARKING PROPOSALS:
Town Planner Jonathan Edwards
Architect David Schurman
EXISTING Union Street Lot plus proposed
NEW PARKING at 21 -37 Hamden St. rear
(also showing possible acquisitions)
EXISTING Union Street Lot plus proposed
NEW PARKING at 21 -37 Rarnden_St. rear and
NEW PARKING at Union Street rear
(Middlesex County Board of Realtors)
GRAPHIC COMPILATION of ASSESSORS DATA on
Union / Middle / Pleasant / Harnden Block
"BLUE SKY" ANALYSIS of UNION / MIDDLE BLOCK
Preserving Pleasant Street Residential Area
and Harnden Street CommerciAl,_Frontage
"BLUE SKY" ANALYSIS of UNION / MIDDLE BLOCK
Showing Mctximum Parking, with ALL land
Acquisitions Conforming with Current Zoning
and New Police Station per Architect Ferro
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
D6 EXISTING Union Street Lot plus proposed
NEW PARKING at Hamden Street rear; and
Acquisition of three properties: Lot 4,
Lot 8 and Lot 9, plus "taking" of Lot 8B.
THIS SCHEME, SHOWING NEW POLICE STATION per
Architect Ferro, sited FRONTING on UNION STREET
is the UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION of the COMMITTEE
and its CONSULTANT, Architect Max Ferro.
D7 MODIFICATION of PREFERRED SCHEME - D6
showing feasibility of site with acquisition of
only two of three recommended parcels for the
combination of goals of siting New Police Station
AND MAXIMIZING reinforcement of Downtown Parking.
D8 Graph of POLICE PARKING DEMAND as
function of TIME of day.
D9 PARKING FOR EXPANDED ON -SITE EXPANSION
showing seven downtown visible and accessable
Pleasant Street spaces to be made available by
use of Union / Middle Street site
Architect Max Ferro
D9 Table of existing usage / non -
usage of UNION / MIDDLE area parking
D10 Photographs of existing usage / non-
usage of UNION / MIDDLE area parking
E SITE RANKING
Police Station Building Committee
F SCHEMATIC DESIGN OF NEW POLICE STATION
Architect Max Ferro
G CREATIVE ARTS LETTER EXPRESSING INTEREST IN ADAPTIVE REUSE OF
EXISTING POLICE STATION
H NEIGHBORS' LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR UNION / MIDDLE STREETS SITE
t
Reading Police Station Building Committee
C/o Lieutenant Robert J. Silva, Chair
June 4, 1996
Board of Selectmen
Town of Reading
16 Lowell Street
Reading, MA 01867
Dear Selectmen:
Enclosed please find a written statement of our annual report.
In summery, we UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND the UNION /MIDDLE
Streets site for its advantages in terms of costs and
benefits to the TOWN OF READING as a whole, the DOWNTOWN BUSINESS
COMMUNITY, a catalist to EXPANDED DOWN'T'OWN PARKING, UNINTERUPTED
OPERATION of the Police Department, NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT, the
IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY (as of our April 2 report to you) of
property necessary for acquisition, improved EASE of CONSTRUCTION,
and the INTEREST of COMMUNITY GROUPS in RE -USE of EXISTING FACILITY.
Enclosed is also the report of our CONSULTANT ARCHITECT, Mr. Max
Ferro FAIR of the PRESERVATION PARTNERSHIP which recommends the
UNION / MIDDLE Streets site. We have, as a committee, unanimously
accepted Mr. Ferro's report, with the single reservation that
several other experts consulted by our committee have indicated
that the cost of rehabilitation of the oldest portion of the
EXISTING STATION, on the present site, will EQUAL or EXCEED the
cost of TOTAL NEW CONSTRUCTION on the UNION /MIDDLE Streets site.
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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
After several months of deliberation during which we, as a
committee, have:
- worked with Architect Max Ferro to develop a PROGRAM
[a writt-,n statement of SPACE / AREA requirements by
FUNCTION and size in SQUARE FEET] for a building to satisfy
the operational and functional needs of the Reading Police
Department well into the next century. Utilizing that
PROGRAM [dated July 1995, see Exhibit A ]
and applying an ESTIMATE of PROBABLE COST, Architect
Ferro has provided a PRELIMINARY BUDGET for CONSTRUCTION and
EQUIPING a new Reading Police station.
worked with Architect Max Ferro to develop a SCHEMATIC DESIGN
[a graphic presentation of the PROGRAM in PLAN FORM showing a
possible relationship, within a hypothetical building envelope,
of the PROGRAM's functional SPACE / AREA requirements]
[ see Exhibit F ]
- utilized Achitect Ferro's PROGRAM and resulting PRELIMINARY
CONSTRUCTION BUDGET as a touchstone to analize the various
SITE OPTIONS possibly available to the Town of Redding.
Naturally, each site has its particular cost implications,
positively and negatively on that PRELIMINARY CONSTRUCTION
BUDGET. [see Exhibit E ]
consulted with a number of other professionals in the
- construction industry: Architects, contractors and - - - - --
estimators specializing in rehabilitation / adaptive re -use,
who have generously volunteered their time and knowledge to
our research.
coordinated our search for a site with the efforts of the
Town Planner and Town Manager in their efforts to improve
other aspects of Readings historical ccnumercial CENTER.
researched with the Town Assessors office, both to locate
"comparables" for evaluation purposes of the existing Police
Station building, and to locate the potential "Tax Title"
parcel [lot 8b] in the Union /Middle Streets block.
individually, in our personal capacities as interested
citizens, volunteered our time and professional expertise to
ascertain the probable availability of the parcels that
would be required to assemble a viable parcel for our
proposal.
consulted with the READING CHAMBER of COMMERCE in relation
to their DOWNTOWN TASK FORCE effort to improve the business
vitality and climate of Readings historical commercial
CENTER. Key to this effort has been a careful
attention to the PARKING issue. The effort of the Town
Planner to provide greater parking in the CENTER, as part of
at grant proposal was, in fact, the KEY to our initial
consideration of our RECOMMENDED SITE.
considered the wishes of the neighbors both of the existing,
r
site, a possibly expanded existing, and alternative sites.
The Town of Reading has been privileged to have had the
cc mnitted participation on this committee of William Lavoie
of 52 Pleasant Street, who's home both faces the existing and
would abut the proposed site, and the informal advice of
other interested potential abutters to an expanded site.
consulted with the Reading Historical Commission, both
through Engineer Wilbar Hoxie, who is a valued member of
our ccm mittee and Ms. Virginia Adams.
consulted with the Land Bank Committee through its Chair,
Mr. Ben Nichols, regarding status of alternative sites.
considered, according to the BASIC CRITERIA laid out by our
consultant, Architect Max Ferro, in his preliminary
November 1995 report to our committee [see Exhibit C ]
and in consultation with Architect Ferro, in the initial
round, the following sites:
- Existing
- Existing expanded to east (Molineaux parcel)
- formerly Cerretani 's Market site
- town parcel at Walker Brook Road
- School Department parcel on aikland Road
- formerly R.M.L.D. parcel on Haven Street
- Union Street Parking lot
f
Son ✓
footnotes
to our recommendations to
you:
As a
committee,
we have felt privileged,
over these many months,
to have been able to work closely with not only a member of your
Board as a valued member of our committee, but also through
frequent helpful interactions, formal and informal, with your
staff in the persons of your Town Planner and your Town Manager
to whom the committee owes a large debt of gratitude for their
ready availability and insightful assistance with the progress
of our work in all phases. Peter Heckenbleikner, your Town
Manager, has been frequentl in discussion with the Police Chief,
the Chair and Johnathan Edwards, your Town Planner.
Mr. Edwards has been aware of the discussion of the Union / middle
Street site potential since the concept of that location for the
new Police Station, as a reinforcement of both the work of the
Downtown Streering Committee, and the Blighted Areas Grant for
Hamden Street (on which both blr. Edwards and Mr. Heckenbleikner
have been working for some time) arose from an initial .13 February
discussion between himself and David Schurman, Architect, who has
been generously donating many hours of his time as non - member
volunteer consultant on physical planning matters to our
committee.
The issue of Parking in the Center was the trigger issue in`t4is
discussion with Mr. Edwards, responding to the concerns of both
the Downtown Steering Committee and the Reading Chamber of
Commerce.
In fact the first "utopian" sketch [Exhibit D5 ] was a "what if"
study of a resolution of
the
Union / Middle
/ Pleasant /. Harnden
Street block from "blue
sky"
perspective of
maximizing parking
possibilities.
Subsequent to this sketch a more detailed study was made of the
areas, assessed valuations, ownership and zoning conformity of
the properties in the block, using the resources of your
Assessors' Office and the knowledge of Mrs. Meehl.
Among other discoveries were the existance of a parcel in the
center of the block of no known owner, available for tax title,
which we believe Mr. Heckenbleikner has moved to have Town
Counsel take, and a possibly non - conforming triple condo in one
of the properties we have recommended acquiring.
It is the opinion of Ms. Loretta Raffi, Realtor, who has
generously donated her personal time in researching the potential
availability of parcels in the Union / Middle block, as reported
In our executive session with you 4 April, that TIME IS OF THE
ESSENCE in relation to acquisition of at least one of the
properties required to be acquired.
It should be understood by the Board of Selectmen that the
members of this committee, acting as volunteers, have sought to
make available to the Town, at no cost, and with no conflict of
interest, their best professional skills and level of service "
in the areas of police logistics, architecture, real estate
brokerage and development, building and public works construction
and - taintenance. The committee has sought in every instance to
bring to the Board a complete body of research "answering
objections" and questions that might arise in advance, to save
the Board time, effort and possible unwaranted delays in their
process.
With the closing of the Berson Pharmacy, at the corner of
Pleasant and Harnden, the future of that key visual corner of the
Downtown also comes in doubt, and argues strongly for a timely
effort to strengthen this block from slipping into further decay
surrounded, as it is, on Union and Middle Streets by a higher
percentage of
non
owner- occupied rental property
which can not be
but stabilized
by
a stronger Police presence in
the neighborhood.
The committee has been concerned in its deliberations with the
wishes of the NEIGHBORS: the neighbor to the east has to date
appeared to be an UNWILLING seller.
We further understand that another eastern abutter and other
neighbors have voiced strong objections to Police expansion in
what would become effectively their "backyard ". So, this site
brings the additional negative prospect of an unfriendly
neighborhood reaction.
The committee has been fortunate to have the volunteer assistance
of several non - members as consultants. Their combined considered
professional opinions and experience has led the committee to the
one reservation we have expressed in our endorsement of Architect
Ferro's final report of May 9, 1996. Among these volunteer
professionals we would particularly mention:
Mr. Nicholas J. Rostanzo of The- Wolf Corporation, who is
- --
currently project manager and Construction Superintendant
for the Pearl Street School adaptive reuse. Mr. Rostanzo
expressed, in the strongest terms, after a thorough viewing
of the existing Police Station, its existing site, and the
theoretical possibilities for expansion of the existing site,
through additional property acquisition to the south, the
east and their combination, that the Town of Reading would
- pay a PREMIUM on the COST OF CONSTRUCTION of 1.2 x to 1.5 x
to build an expanded station based on the existing site and
k building.
Mr. Rostanzo identified particularly, as he aptly calls it,
the problem of "FIT" of required functions into an inflexible
frame requiring a "forced" solution (as oppossed to the
"Fit" at Pearl Street School where there ire NO STRUCTURAL
ELEMENTS TO BE MOVED to acccmadate the ADAPTIVE REUSE
In addition he identified, in relation to the EXISTING SITE,
problems of CONTRACTOR ACCESS sometimes requiring two
different "set -ups" because of the TIGHTNESS of the site;
and problem of STREET TRAFFIC interuption.
JcQnes Fitzgerald, Architect. Mr. Fitzgerald, of the firms
invited to submit proposals for the feasibility study
declined, expressing his strong reservations about
the tightness of the existing or existing / expanded
site from both a construction and an operational point
_ of view
the existing buildings fortress -like construction and
j
__ resultant lack_of planning flexibility_could_ not yield __
really satisfactory building
- excessive cost [x 1.20 to 1.3] over new construction,
due to above consideration in doing a "forced -fit"
adaptive re -use of the existing Police Station building.
[Mr. Fitzgerald "s expertise runs the gamut from the
recent CALARESO's building on Main Street, Reading, to
the UMass Medical Center in Worcester. Most recently
he has done the re -use of the former Rt. 1 State Police
Barracks to the Topsfield Police Station and a police
station for Boxford.I
- David Schurmin, Architect. Volunteer consultant to our
ccmmittee. [Mr. Schurman spent twenty years in the adaptive
re -use field as both architect and developer, so familiar
with both design feasibility and the bottom line of COSTS.
He has high recc nnendations for his many efforts in historic
preservation in Maine.] Mr. Schurmtn concurs, based on his
professional and business exprience in all of the points
raised by Messrs. Rostanzo and Fitzgerald.
THE PRESERVATION
PARTNERSHIP
A. Operations
"Operations" spaces are those related to the daily
functions of the patrol force.
Al, Lobby (with Public Restrooms) should be at
street level for optimal accessibility and should
comprise washrooms, a waiting area and access to
information counters. Ideally, the uniformed shift
commander, a sergeant, should respond to public
inquiries at the counter. As this individual may be
otherwise engaged, a secondary counter or window
should provide access to a dispatcher, as
dispatchers are always there.
present space 168 square feet
(no washrooms or access to sergeants)
program space 600 square feet
A2, Operations Office /Counter: This is a space
right off the ground -level entrance lobby, to which
the public comes for help.
present space does not exist
program space 420 square feet
A3, Dispatch: The communications area needs to
accommodate dispatchers working on Enhanced 911.
While they should not have to deal with people
entering the station (as they do now), they could do
so as a back -up to the desk sergeant (shift
commander).
present space 225 square feet
program space 640 square feet
A4, Sergeants (Shift Commanders): At present, the
shift commander's office is a little space behind
Communications. While it is desirable for this
office to have visual control of both the counter
and dispatch areas, efficiency would be greatly
improved if the room were large enough for each
sergeant to have his personal desk and work space.
present-space 175 square feet
program space 600 square feet
A5, Executive Lieutenant: The Executive Lieutenant
should have his own office, as he is second in
overall command. While two hundred square feet is a
good office planning standard for a small, efficient
space.
36 No. Water Street present space 200 square feet
New Bedford, MA 02740
Tel: (508) 996 -3383
THE PRESERVATION
PARTNERSHIP
36 No. Water Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Tel: (508) 996 -3383
(shared with another lieutenant)
program space 260 square feet
A6, Other Lieutenants: There will eventually be two
other lieutenants, who can share an office.
present space
program space
none
400 square feet
A7, Report Room: At present there is a little cubby
hole of a room with a computer for all the officers
waiting to file their reports. At least three
report stations should be provided.
present space
program space
100 square feet
300 square feet
A8, Roll Call: The roll call room is where the
patrolmen on each shift arrive to receive their
assignments. It should provide comfortable seats at
tables, a place for the pick -up of individual
communicators and video monitors for the Law
Enforcement Television Network. So equipped, it can
serve as a specialized training room when not being
used at shift change (a twenty - minute process). The
present roll call room is not only small, but is so
located as to be virtually a corridor. In the
absence of a proper day room, it is constantly being
used for unintended purposes, making study and
instruction use impossible.
present space 325 square feet
program space 450 square feet
A9, Day Room: The provision of a day room where
patrolmen on duty take their lunch and breaks,
perhaps with television, is essential. In stations
where such facilities do not exist, it is virtually
impossible to limit milling about, disrupting the
work of other officers and dispatchers. The day
room should have small round tables, a refrigerator,
microwave, sink and television set.
present space none
program space 450 square feet
B. Administrative Offices
The Chief is the administrator of the police station.
This component is the command module of the facility.
B1, Chief's Office: The present office is totally
inadequate. As the Chief has the principal.
THE PRESERVATION
PARTNERSHIP
36 No. Water Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Tel: (508) 996 -3383
executive as well as public relation position, his
office must be adequate to receive visitors with
dignity.
present space
program space
250 square feet
400 square feet
B2, Secretary: This is a secretarial /reception area
which must have both dignity and waiting space.
present space 80 square feet
(not defined)
program space 200 square feet
B3, Senior Officers' Conference: As the Chief meets
frequently with his sergeants and lieutenants, he
must have a small but adequate conference room.
This space will also permit confidential meetings
with the public.
present space none
program space 200 square feet
B4, Chief's Lunch Room: If a small space is planned
where the Chief can sit on lunch or break, equipped
with coffee, sink and small refrigerator plus a
small round table, it has been found that more
frequent informal meetings with other senior
officers is greatly encouraged.
present space none
program space 140 square feet
C. OFFICES
Every police station is also an office building, where
detectives and clerks process an enormous amount of
paperwork and records.
Cl, Detective Lieutenant: This is a private office
for the officer in charge of investigations.
present space
program space
108 square feet
200 square feet
C2, Detectives: A much larger office, housing
individual work stat-Jans `or the whole detective
force. The present one is incredibly overcrowded.
program space 800 square feet
C3, Interview Rooms: There is only one at present;
two are needed.
T'iE PRESERVATION
PARTNERSHIP
36 No. Water Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Tel: (508) 996 -3383
present space 96 square feet
program space 200 square feet
C4, Records: This space is located close to the
public entrance so that records can be obtained by
members of the public without entering the station
proper.
present space 325 square feet
program space 400 square feet
C5, Classroom: A large classroom is necessary for
educational programs and should be near the main
entrance so that community groups and other visitors
have immediate access. At least forty people should
be accommodated.
present space none
program space 400 square feet
C6, D.A.R.E. Office: A small office for this very
successful program of drug education is urgently
needed.
present space none
program space 200 square feet
C7, Mail and Copier Room: The need is self - evident
for a small room to serve said clerical purposes.
present space none
program space 100 square feet
D. Cell Block
The Cell Block of a modern police station is really a
small incarceration facility that should be as separate
as possible from the rest of the station. Present cells
do not meet state guidelines and are not safe enough to
protect the Town from possible litigation. We recommend
ten new cells to totally replace the present seven.
D1, Cells: See above.
present space
feet
785 square
program space 1,550 square feet
D2, Booking and Holding: Again, the booking and
holding areas must be replaced to meet current
safety and efficiency standards.
present space 300 square feet
THE PRESERVATION
PARTNERSHIP
36 No. Water Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Tel: (508) 996 -3383
program space 450 square feet
D3, Sallyport: A new but smaller sallyport, with
proper security improvements.
present space 450 square feet
program space 360 square feet
D4, Matron: While matrons are only required on site
when female prisoners are incarcerated, the small
matron's bedroom, with attached bathroom, can have a
variety of useful applications in emergencies.
present space 80 square feet
program space 160 square feet
D5, Evidence Room: Few spaces in police stations
have changed as much. Where evidence used to be
stored on shelves, individual case lockers are now
required to maintain the standards required by the
courts.
present space 88 square feet
program space 300 square feet
D6, Photo Lab: This facility gets much use and is
overcrowed.
present space 140 square feet
program space 200 square feet
E. Locker Rooms (with washrooms)
El, Men: The present men's locker room is
shamefully inadequate.
present space
program space
430 square feet
600 square feet
E2, Women: While there is only one woman presently
on the force, this is a growth area. Separate
facilities are required by law.
present space none
program space 200 square feet
E3, Senior Officers: Senior officers should have
their own locker room and washroom, as this degree
of fraternization makes for poor discipline and
embarrassment.
present space
program space
none
200 square feet
THE PRESERVATION
PARTNERSHIP
36 No. Water Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Tel: (508) 996 -3383
E4, Fitness Room: Absolutely necessary to maintain
current mandatory fitness standards without waste of
travel time.
present space none
program space 230 square feet
F. Miscellaneous
F1, Armorer: The armorer maintains firearms and is
responsible for all the records pertinent to their
use, acquisition, qualifications, etc.
present space
program space
none
200 square feet
F2, Armory: Storage space for special weapons and
separate space for impounded weapons, which are
often very numerous.
present space closet
program space 100 square feet
F3, Bicycle Storage: The statutory storage of
stolen bikes is very space intensive. These tend to
intrude into all other spaces unless a dedicated
area is provided.
present space
program space
elsewhere
400 square feet
F4, Garage: Retained existing space.
present and program space 500 square feet
F5, Mechanical: Retained existing space.
present and program space 272 square feet
F6, Electrical /Telephone:
safety reasons.
present space
program space
Should be separate for
none
1`60 square feet
F7, Elevator: Required by ADA
present space none
program space 450 square feet
present space
program space
none
150 square feet
F9, Stairs: More are needed.
present space 500 square feet
program space 1,150 square feet
F10, General Storage: Absolutely essential if
clutter is to be reasonably contained in the rest of
the police station.
present space
program space
126 square feet
500 square feet
F11, Communications Equipment: Equipment room
should be expanded.
present space
program space
116 square feet
200 square feet
F12, Additional Washrooms and Janitor: Less space
is needed due to provision of dedicated washrooms.
present space 400 square feet
program space 300 square feet
G. Conclusions on Program
The above program is tabulated on the sheets which
follow. The present building includes twenty -two percent
circulation space, so that the 6,543 square feet of
useful existing space fill 8,000 square feet of building.
We expect to improve this efficiency ration and have
allowed only twenty percent for circulation in our
program.
-'�[E PRESERVATION
PARTNERSHIP
36 No. Water Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Tel: (508) 996 -3383
THE PRESERVATION
DADTMr:DQWTD
w 11U. waiel oueei
New Bedford, MA 02740
Tel: (508) 996 -3383
4. PROGRAM SUMMARY
FUNCTION
Operations
Lobby (with washrooms)
Operations
Dispatch
Sargents (five)
Shift Command: Executive Lieutenant
Two Other Lieutenants
Report Room
Roll Call
Day Room /Lunch Room
Administrative
Chief
Chief's Secretary
Senior Officers' Conference Room
Senior Officers' Lunch Room
Office
Detective Lieutenant
Detectives
Interview Rooms
Records
Classroom
D.A.R.E.
Mail /Copy Room
Arrest
Cell Block
Booking and Holding
Sallyport
Matron
Evidence
Photo
Locker Rooms (with washrooms)
Men
Women
Senior Officers
Fitness Room
Miscellaneous
PRESENT PROPOSED
168
600
225
420
none
640
175
600
200
260
none
400
100
300
325
450
none
450
250
400
84
200
none
200
none
140
108
200
300
800
96
200
325
400
none
400
none
200
none
100
785
1,550
300
450
450
360
80
160
88
300
140
200
430 600
none 200
none 200
none 230
Armorer none Luu
Armory small 100
Bike Storage none 400
Garage 500 500
Mechanical
Electrical /Telephone
Elevator
Elevator Mechanical
Stairs
General Storage
Communications Equipment
Other Restrooms and Janitor
Circulation, 22% & 20/ respectively
TOTAL AREA
-4E PRESERVATION
PARTNERSHIP
36 No. Water Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Tel: (508) 996 -3383
272
272
none
160
none
450
none
150
500
1,150
126
500
116
200
400
300
6,543 16,000
1,457 3,200
8,000 19,200
THE
PRESERVATION
PARTNERSHIP
ARCHITECTURE
ESERVATION CONSULTINt
UILDING CONSERVATION
RESERVATION PLANNING
HISTORIC INTERIORS
L. FERRO, FAIA
§6 No. Water Street
flew Bedford, MA 02740
Tel: (508) 996 -3383
1FAX: (508) 990 -8891
READING POLICE STATION
A Program for Expansion
July, 1995
Maximilian L. Ferro, FAIA, RIBA, Architect
I. INTRODUCTION
The present Reading Police Station has become grossly
inadequate for its purpose. The original station, an
attractive Georgian Revival building on two floors,
comprised only five thousand square feet and was expanded
to the present eight thousand square feet with a boxy
two -story wing towards the rear. Unfortunately, the
entrance on Pleasant Street is a half -level above street
level and the station does not meet any of the compulsory
requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA). As the small site is shared with the former fire
station (now used by the elderly), and has limited
parking, expansion on this site would be impossible
without acquisition of the adjacent lot. With this lot,
however, our study has shown that adequate expansion and
parking space would be available. Alternately, a new
police station, meeting the requirements of this program,
could be built on a new site elsewhere in town.
2. STATION SIZE AND BUDGET
Al already mentioned, the station now offers a gross area
of eight thousand square feed, divided between two
floors. A dozen parking spaces are shared with the
elderly center.
While maximum funded positions to date have been
fifty sworn personnel, plus dispatchers (nine now,
possibly increasing to twelve), civilian clerks (two now,
increasing to four) and an animal control officer. Total
population in the future could thus be on the order of
i
seventy.
With a population of about 28,000, the Town of Reading is
comparable to both Burlington and Woburn, whose police
stations comprise about 22,000 square feet each. The
Woburn Police Station, noted for its uncompromising
completeness, was built and equipped a few years ago for
L
$6,000,000. The comparable Burlington Police Station,
designed by our firm, was built and equipped the
following year at a cost of $2,700,000, of which
$2,000,000 was construction and the balance was furniture
and equipment. The much -lower cost is attributable to
the reuse of an existing building for part of the
facility, and very careful attention to cost. By
exercising similar thrift, we suspect that the Reading
Police Station could be expanded to meet all foreseeable
present and future needs for just under $3,000,000 on its
present site.
The program which follows, prepared with the greatest
thrift commensurate with foresight and common sense,
envisages a station of 19,200 square feet. An
equivalent, entirely new station could be built and
equipped on a new site for the following budget:
19,200 sq.ft. at $130 $2,500,000
Site Development 100,000
is
$2,600,000
Contingency 260,000
$2,860,000
Fees 290,000
1,
$3,150,000
Furnishings and Equipment 650,000
Total Project Cost $3,800,000
Please note that the $800,000 difference between this
budget and the expansion budget would be narrowed by the
acquisition cost of the adjacent property on Pleasant
Street, so that the real difference between expansi -on and
a totally new station is probably closer to a half
mullion.
l..
3. THE PROGRAM
All components of the program are discussed
l THE PRESERVATION
independently, wit present and proposed areas, and these
PARTNERSHIP
areas are then tabulated at the end. Individual spaces
are divided into major police station components:
36 No. Water Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Tel: (508) 996 -3383
EXHIBIT Cl ANALYSIS of POSSIBLE SITES - November 1995
Architect Max Ferro
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1
THE
PRESERVATION
PARTNERSHIP
ARGMf MME
PRESERVATION CONSULTING
BUILDING CONSERVATION
PRESERVATION PLANNING
I HISTORIC Mums
MAX1MtUAN I.. FERRO, FAIR
36 No. Water Street
µ New Bedford. MA 02740
Tel: &8) 996 -3383 1
FAX: '5081990.8891
Reading Police Station Analysis of Possible Sites
November, 1995
In order to be suitable for accommodating a new or expanded Reading Police Station. a
site must meet these five Basic Criteria:
Criterium l: The site must be at least 30,000 sq. ft. to permit basic
construction and essential parking, but 1 ',% - 2A. would be
desirable to allow for long -term expansion.
Criterium 2: The site must be available to the Town, without coercion, in the
next i - 2 years.
Criterium 3: While a town -owned site would be ideal, the site must be available
at a cost acceptable to Town Meeting, so as not to inflate the
already considerable projected cost of police station construction
Criterium 4 Since cruisers are dispatched from preassigned patrol locations, the
station need not be close to the geographic center of Town, but its
location must be such that it can be reached or left regardless of
traffic conditions.
Criterium S There should be no environmental or other impediments to
construction on the site.
f
f
Tabulation of Site Suitability
SITE
BASIC CRITERIA
I
2
3
4
S
Existing;
N
Y
Y
N
Y
Expanded Existing
Y
N
?
N
Y
Cerretani's Market
Y
Y
N
?
Y
**
Walker Brook Road
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
* **
Oakland Road
Y
Y
Y
y
y
Union St. Parking
N
Y
Y
N
Y
R.M.L.D. /flaven St.
N
Y
Y
N
Y
* * * *«
NOTES:
* There was hope that the house adjoining the present station could be bought, to
make the site large enough for expansion. The owners have now indicated their
total unwillingness to sell.... at least for the foreseeable future.
* * A very high price, together with poor access in traffic jams, makes this vacant
supermarket a poor choice.
* ** Use of any part of this huge site would force us to undertake the total clean -up of
the whole, at very great expense.
" * ** Oakland Road was quickly identified as the most outstanding site, and one which
is owned by the Town and controlled by the School Committee_ Its use would
require School Committee approval.
* * * * * These two available sites, each 9000 sq. R., are far too small for use as police
station sites. cz ,-t1AAxA— OLIl U tsL -14 mt y
THE PRESERVATION
PARTNERSHIP
36 No. Water Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
T107• ICMI 4Qf, z'l42
SITE
RANKING
REASONS
'resent with
4
Insufficient Lot Size, expensive
6 Parker St.
transition costs, loss of lockup durin
construction, added construction costs
(contractor required to set-up twice), n
on-site parking during construction, n
room for expansion.
akland Rd.
3
Costly site preparation (ledge), lot i
unavailable, site away from business
district.
resent with
2
Lot unavailable, transition costs,
5 Pleasant
sufficient size lot.
nion St.
1
Large level lot, part of larger tow
arking Lot
project, more visible, part of downtow
community.
9
0
0
a
n
n
......................_ ......
Present With Present With Oakland Rd. Onion /Middle
75 Pleasant
16 Parker
lgd. /Cost
2,890,000
2,890,000
2,860,000
2,860,000
ees
quipment
289,000
650,000
289,000
650,000
286,000
650,000
286,000
650,000
and /Blgd.
200,000
200,000
--- - - - - --
**330,000
cquisition
ossible
<300,000>
<300,000>
ale /Income
150,000
per. Costs
dded*
200,000
ite
onditions
4,029,000
4,179,000
3,696,000
3,826,000
stimate Of
inal Cost
EXHIBIT D GRAPHIC ANALYSIS of UNION STREET SITE IN RELATION
TO DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION and PARKING PROPOSALS:
Town Planner Jonathan Edwards
Architect David Schu=m
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D3 GRAPHIC COMPILATION of ASSESSORS DATA on
Union / Middle / Pleasant / Harnden Block
Architect David Schurman
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D7 MODIFICATION of PREFERRED SCHEME D6
showing feasibility of site with acquisition of
only two of three recommended parcels for the
combination of goals of siting New Police Station
AND MAXIMIZING reinforcement of Downtown Parking.
Architect David Schurman
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G LETTER EXPRESSING INTEREST IN ADAPTIVE REUSE OF
EXISTING POLICE STATION
CREATIVE ARTS / Reading
May 1, 1996
Lieutenant Robert J. Silva
Chairperson
Reading Police Station Site Selection Committee
67 Pleasant St.
Reading, MA 01867
Dear Lieutenant Silva,
Thank you so much for the tour of the police station last week. After meeting the
Creative Arts Board of Directors, I would like to inform you that Creative Arts is
interested in exploring the possibility of making use of the current police station after it is
vacated. Obviously, there are many areas of discussion and decisions to be made, but
although the building is clearly inadequate for your purposes, it does appear that it has
potential as an arts center.
We wish you and the Committee every success in planning for a new police station in
Reading.
Sincerely,
_ J
Mary Street
Executive Director
"4rt and Nits?'(- /0), aff acges."
25 WOBURN STREET, READING, MA 01867, (617) 942 -0538
June 4, 1996
Board of Selectmen
Town Hall
Reading, Massachusetts 01867
Re: Police Station Building Project
Dear Selectmen:
As citizens of the Town of Reading and neighboring residents of the current Police station
we write in support of the Police Station Building Committee's recommendation that a new
Police Station be constructed at the Middle/Union Streets site and to express our strong
opposition to any plan to further expand the existing Police Station on Pleasant Street.
Although the matter has not been presented to Town Meeting it appears that the Board,
recognizing the inadequacies of the existing Police Station, supports the construction of a modern
facility which will serve the town well into the future.
The Police Station Building Committee, a group of citizen volunteers has met regularly
for over a year to devise a Plan and to select a site for the new structure. The Committee, after
careful consideration and with the assistance of a number of professionals, recommends to the
Board the Union/Middle Streets site as the best location for the new Station. The bases for the
Committee's site selection are detailed in the Committee's report to the Board. We support the
Committee's recommendation because we believe the proposed site is in the neighborhood's, the
town center 's and the Town's best interests.
The Construction of a new station at the Union/Middle Streets site has several advantages
over expansion of the existing station on Pleasant Street:
1) The safety of the town will not be adversely affected during construction since
all Police functions can continue uninterrupted at the current station while the new
station is being built. Any plan to renovate the existing station would require the
police to perform their duties for over a year in the middle of a construction
site.
2) For almost the cost of renovating the old station, the town, by building a new
station, will have two buildings available for public use. When the town moved
station, the vacated building was effectively renovated and is now used as a
senior center. The Senior Center has been a valuable addition to the Town
providing a place for Senior citizens to meet during the day, as well as providing
needed meeting rooms for town and civic groups on weekends and evenings. The
existing police station could serve a similar purpose. A home for the Reading Art
Council and /or Teen Center are just two current needs which the building could
fill.
3) Construction of a new police station on the Union/Middle Street site will
enhance the improvements of Reading Square. The site is just across the Common
from the Town Hall. The Union Street location could be the first step in the
revitalization of the east side of Main Street providing useable parking for those
businesses. The current Middle Street Parking lot is rarely used by shoppers and
serves almost exclusively as an overnight parking place for neighboring residents
and is never full even in the dead of winter. ) -
4) The construction of a new police station will limit the disruption of traffic in
our neighborhood. Currently, seniors and others using the Senior Center park on
Pleasant Street eschewing the Middle Street lot because of its distance from the
Senior Center. The construction of the new police station on Union Street, will
permit those using the Senior Center to conveniently park in the lot behind the
existing police station thereby reducing the congestion on Pleasant Street.
5) Finally, the location and construction of the new police station at the tl"nion.'Middle
Streets site will take unattractive, anger- utilized land for the construction of a modern
police facility which will benefit and upgrade that block.
For all of these reasons we wholeheartedly support the Police Station Building
Committee's recommendation and urge the Selectmen to accept the recommendation and support
the construction of the police station at the Union/Middle Street location.
We adamantly oppose any plan to purchase property on Pleasant Street adjoining the
current Police Station for the purpose of renovating the existing station and constructing an
addition and additional parking lot for the following reasons:
1) The character of the neighborhood would be adversely changed forever by the
destruction of a gracious, old farmhouse and the paving over of an almost half -
acre of green space including beautiful mature trees, numerous flowering shrubs
and large perennial and wild flower gardens. We do not know whether the
conversion of this residential lot into an office building and a.paved parking lot
is permitted by the Town's Zoning By -Laws, however, even assuming such action
is permissible, it is clearly incompatible with the character of this residential
neighborhood.
2) The construction period, which will take well over a year, would cause major
Senior Center. Users of the Senior Center park on Pleasant Street. Renovation
and construction of a police station at the Pleasant Street site would place the
Senior Center in the middle of a construction site while virtually eliminating
parking for both the Police Station and the Senior Center during the construction
period.
3) Short term construction will create noise, dirt and disruption for our
neighborhood which has already become too heavily trafficked. In the long run,
construction of an expanded station on Pleasant Street will permanently change the
residential character of our neighborhood.
For these reasons, we the undersigned residents of Reading respectfully urge the Board
to adopt the recommendations of the Police Station Building Committee and support the location
of the new Police Station on the Union/Middle Streets site and, work actively with the Police
Station Building Committee to make the goal of a new police station on that site a reality.
S ..3 a0
Sincerely yours,
Plato
7--
11W4
'r'�z-
I PARKING UTILIZATION SURVEYS
HARNDEN / UNION / MIDDLE STREETS BLOCK
PARKING UTILIZATION SURVEYS
The question of impact on available parking of the
relocation of the Police Station from its present Pleasant
Street location to the Union / Middle Streets site has been
raised by all of us concerned with the short and long term
vitality of the towns historically Main Street oriented
commercial center. The net short term effect of our proposal
{{- is plus or minus 1 space.
As a committee we have been particularly sensitive to the
concerns of the Downtown Steering Committee and their long
term goals of increased parking in the Center. To that end
we have met several times individually and as a committee
with Don Cowan and Peter Simms.
We have also been particularly sensitive to the neighborhood
impact of creating a vastly expanded lot at the existing
Pleasant Street site where only a small lot, essentally
screened by the Police Station and the Senior Center, now
exists.
With the relocation of the Police Station, the perceived
safety and ease -of- access of directly visible Pleasant Street
spaces, freed up by the relocation, with clear, well -lit
direct sightlines to CVS, SIMMS, etc., at an existing well -
marked and signalled cross walk should increase the use of
parking on the East side of Main Street.
The relocation will result in freeing up IN A MORE CENTRAL
LOCATION some 30+ spaces currently (and in the on -site re -use
and expansion alternative) dedicated to Police use directly
on Pleasant Street, as well as providing, with the Police
Station presence at Union / Middle, the sense of security for
parking and access to users of the Senior Center, as well as
the commercial Center on Harnden and the West side of Main
Street.
Long term we see the proposals of our Town Planner, Jonathan
Edwards, for provision of additional parking to the rear of
the Harnden Street block (Exhibits Dl, D2 ff.), as very
important to revitalization of that area and hope the town
fathers will move to acquire the necessary access rights,
titles, etc. to mike this a reality. We trust that the long
term study being undertaken by the Downtown Steering
Committee will yield yet additional positive proposals.
Short term, our research has shown the suggestion of lack of
parking in the Handen / Union / Middle / Pleasant Streets
area to be one of PERCEPTION rather than REALITY. As
documentation, there follows both a photographic survey of the
block and a weeks round - the -clock parking count of utilization
-- - -
of the existing - Union -/ Middle Streets parking lot. _ __
PHOTOGRAPHY
The two pages of photographs were taken late morning on a
beautiful 65 degree, sunny, Friday (May 31, 1996). Perfect
time and weather for that shopping foray to Downtown Reading
Center!
The two spaces at Hamden / Pleasant, most accessible to
Center were empty.
- beyond that there were 11 additional empty spaces
northward along the Rurnden Street frontage.
Three of the parked vehicles on Harnden Street frontage
were marked as belonging to facing businesses.
(2 Reading Auto Parts, 1 to A Plus Printing)
- There were 8 empty spaces at Anton "s / Purple Door lot.
There were 9 empty spaces at the Middlesex Board of
Realtors lot.
- -, - There were only two on- street parked cars the entire
lengths of Union and of Middle Streets
In both the photographs and the parking count we did not
try to identify unmarked employee /owner cars parked
at the front door ".
ti
u2
� Imo. +_ " J 1 �-
Cj�
49
t.
�5
D9 Table of existing usage / non-
usage of UNION / MIDDLE area parking
PARKING
UNION STREET PARKING LOT
OF CARS
DATE
Day
TIME
17
5/30/96
Thursday
11
P.M.
18
5/31/96
Friday
09
A. M.
20
5/31/96
11
A. M.
27
5/31/96
12
P.M.(lunch crowd)
22
5/31/96
03
P.M.
22
5/31/96
04
P.M.
18
6/01/96
Saturday
07
A.M.(yard sale)
18
6/01/96
08
A. M.
20
6/01/96
09
A. M.
19
6/01/96
10
A. M.
19
6/01/96
01
P.M.(working on cars)
17
6/01/96
03
P.M.
18
6/01/96
06
P.M.
16
6/01/96
10
P.M.
15
6/02/96
Sunday
12
Mid.
16
6/02/96
02
A. M.
12
6/02/96
08
A. M.
12
6/02/96
09
A. M.
09
6/02/96
11
A. M.
11
6/02/96
01
P.M.
09
6/02/96
02
P.M.
12
6/02/96
06
P.M.
14
6/02/96
08
P.M.
14
6/02/96
10
P.M.
14
6/02/96
12
Mid.
14
6/03/96
Monday
02
A. M.
16
6/03/96
06
A. M.
16
07
A. M.
14
09
A. M.
19
11
A. M.
15
01
P.M.
10
03
P.M.
08
05
P.M.
.08
07
P.M.
13
09
P. M.
15
11
P. M.
15
6/04/96
Tuesday
01
A.M.
15
06
A. M.
15
08
A. M.
22
10
A. M.
20
11
A. M.
21
02
P.M.
22
03
P.M.
14
07
P.M.
15
11
P. M.
16
12
MID.
MEMBERSHIP OF POLICE STATION BUILDING COMMI'T'TEE
Lt. Robert J. Silva, Chair Project Manager
Paul Peoples Police Representative
James Cormier Police Representative
Bruce MacDonald Board of Selectmen
Wilbar M. Hoxie, P.E. Historical Commission
Stephen Blewitt Finance Committee
Louis E. deBrigard, Jr. Department of Public Works
Karol A. McLaughlin Town Meeting Member
Lcluretta R. Raffi Realtor
William F. Lavoie Neighbor
formerly serving:
William T. Bogaert Neighbor