• Contact Us
  • Events calendar
Entering Swellesley
Pinnacle, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

  • Advertise
  • Wellesley Square
  • Deland, Gibson Insurance Athlete of the Week
  • Camp
  • Private schools, sponsored by Riverbend
  • Business index
  • Contribute
  • Eat
  • Schools
  • Top 10 things to do
  • Embracing diversity
  • Kids
  • About us
  • Events
  • Natick Report
  • Seniors
  • Letters to the editor
  • Guidelines for letters to the editor
  • Live government meetings
  • Raiders sports schedules & results
  • Fire & police scanner
  • 2023 Town Election
 
Needham Bank, Wellesley
Write Ahead, Wellesley

Wellesley’s 900 Worcester St. recreation complex proposals strong, but not quite strong enough first time around

January 27, 2016 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

St. James the Great church wellesleyThe 900 Worcester St. Committee received three strong proposals for the recreation complex to be built on the former St. James the Great property on Rte. 9 east, but each plan had enough shortcomings so that the committee has found itself looking for a re-do. But an expedited one at that.

The committee, whose volunteer members have been working on this project for several years now, intends to recommend to the Board of Selectmen on Feb. 8 that “we reissue the RFP at the end of March on a fast track for a May due date and aim to get to the BoS with a recommendation in early June.  This will give plenty of time to present at an anticipated fall Special Town Meeting.” The original RFP was issued over the summer.

A likely scenario is that all three proposals would be resubmitted, but with better explanations about funding, parking and other issues. A key consideration is that the town, which now owns the property, not be required to foot any of the bill for construction or facility maintenance.

One RFP respondent, Corbelis, actually did send a letter including additional details about its proposal to the committee shortly before it voted, but the letter was not considered as a matter of procedure. (Corbelis was hoping to get a last word in about parking/fundraising/community benefit given that the others vying for the project had their public interviews after Corbelis.)

If a new RFP process does take place, it’s possible that another outfit could enter the contest. Though some might like to see another round of interviews with the existing respondents take place instead.

The 900 Worcester St. Committee began early evaluations of request for proposal (RFP) submissions late last year and you can check out the proposals here, or view public presentations here that took place earlier this month. The committee has been looking at the proposals with an eye toward supporting the town’s needs for more playing spaces and facilities, but also ensuring that the neighboring area won’t be adversely affected.

To recap the proposals:

*Frost Realty Associates outlined a pool-less plan for two indoor NHL-size ice rinks and an outdoor lighted field suited for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and football. Frost points to three other such forums that it has built over the past couple of decades. They’re looking for a 40-year, annual $100,000 lease from the town.

*Corbelis, led by Wellesley resident Garrett Solomon, pitched a 243,000 sq. ft. facility dubbed The House that would boast two NHL-size indoor ice rinks plus a small puddle rink, four “water bodies” highlighted by a 121×75 competition pool, an indoor field surrounded by a two-lane running track, and fitness space designed by Wellesley’s Train Boston. One unique feature: A 25-foot high climbing wall.

*Marathon Sports Group/West Suburban YMCA of Newton described a facility including two full skating rinks, two pools (6- and 4-lane), plus an indoor field with turf as good as or better than that on the Sprague Fields. Marathon Sports Group points to relevant projects it has developed or is in the process of developing in Bedford, Middleton and Worcester.

All three groups were shooting to open a facility in 2018.

print

Filed Under: Construction

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Linden Square, Wellesley
Riverbend, Natick

Tip us off…

Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

 

Advertisements

Wellesley Square, Wellesley Merchants
Wellesley, Jesamondo
Beacon Hill Athletic Club, Wellesley
Fay School, Southborough
Sexton test prep
Feldman Law
Wellesley Theatre Project
Volvo
Cheesy Street Grill
Mature Caregivers
Admit Fit, Wellesley
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
Never miss a post with our free daily Swellesley Report email
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide

You can subscribe for free, though we appreciate any contribution that supports our independent journalism.

Click on Entering Natick sign to read our Natick Report

Entering Natick road sign

Most Read Posts

  • Sign up now for summer camp in Wellesley (and beyond)
  • Letters-to-the-editor day in Wellesley—important election-time updates
  • Wellesley Public Works news: A PFAS warning; Weston Road construction on tap for summer; Wood recycling hot, pricey; Town Meeting article preview
  • Wellesley business buzz: Board business liaison phased out; Help ID top business leaders of color; Hospital taps new president
  • Wellesley Cotillion makes a strong comeback

Upcoming Events

Jan 25
7:00 pm - 7:45 pm

Olin College Presents Connecting Communities 2023: Sustainability

Jan 26
9:00 am - 10:30 am

Select Board office hours—in-person or online

Jan 31
9:00 am - 11:00 am Recurring

Coffee and Conversation with the Wetlands Administrator and Staff

Jan 31
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Families Eat Together online presentation

Feb 1
11:59 pm

Deadline for Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club grants application

View Calendar

Popular pages

  • Wellesley’s 7 official scenic roads

Recent Comments

  • LADY WELLESLEY on Wellesley police officer injured in crash at intersection of Grove and Benvenue
  • Peggy Heffernan on Wellesley police officer injured in crash at intersection of Grove and Benvenue
  • Beth Dublin on Wellesley police officer injured in crash at intersection of Grove and Benvenue
  • Erika on Where to buy the Wellesleyest stuff in Wellesley
  • Alice Roy on Inside Track has jewel of a Wellesley engagement scoop

Links we like

  • Danny's Place
  • Great Runs
  • Jack Sanford: Wellesley's Major League Baseball Star
  • Tech-Tamer
  • The Wellesley Wine Press
  • Universal Hub
  • Wellesley Sports Discussion Facebook Group

Categories

  • 2021 Town Election (24)
  • 2023 Town Election (2)
  • Animals (428)
  • Antiques (49)
  • Art (592)
  • Beyond Wellesley (52)
  • Books (376)
  • Business (1,556)
  • Camp (11)
  • Careers/jobs (53)
  • Churches (82)
  • Clubs (236)
  • Construction (300)
  • Dump (130)
  • Education (3,189)
    • Babson College (252)
    • Bates Elementary School (18)
    • Dana Hall School (36)
    • Fiske Elementary School (11)
    • Hardy Elementary School (47)
    • Hunnewell Elementary School (46)
    • MassBay (57)
    • Schofield Elementary School (26)
    • Sprague Elementary School (19)
    • St. John School (2)
    • Tenacre Country Day School (11)
    • Upham Elementary School (35)
    • Wellesley College (613)
    • Wellesley High School (996)
    • Wellesley Middle School (204)
  • Embracing diversity (84)
  • Entertainment (814)
  • Environment (772)
  • Fashion (144)
  • Finance (15)
  • Fire (173)
  • Food (358)
  • Fundraising (641)
  • Gardens (164)
  • Government (604)
    • 2020 Town Election (47)
    • 2022 Town Election (15)
  • Health (866)
    • COVID-19 (203)
  • Hikes (6)
  • History (399)
  • Holidays (440)
  • Houses (162)
  • Humor (47)
  • Kids (867)
  • Law (8)
  • Legal notices (10)
  • Letters to the Editor (71)
  • Media (72)
  • METCO (4)
  • Military (13)
  • Morses Pond (109)
  • Music (579)
  • Natick Report (30)
  • Neighbors (280)
  • Obituaries & remembrances (86)
  • Outdoors (655)
  • Parenting (63)
  • Police (778)
    • Crime (395)
  • Politics (554)
  • POPS Senior Profile (10)
  • RDF (6)
  • Real estate (344)
  • Religion (138)
  • Restaurants (340)
  • Safety (155)
  • Scouts (2)
  • Seniors (127)
  • Shopping (163)
  • Sponsored (6)
  • Sports (1,012)
    • Athlete of the Week (12)
  • STEM (108)
  • Technology (165)
  • Theatre (397)
  • Town Meeting (23)
  • Transportation (240)
  • Travel (17)
  • Uncategorized (1,244)
  • Volunteering (350)
  • Weather (179)
  • Wellesley Election 2019 (21)
  • Wellesley Free Library (280)
  • Wellesley Holiday Gift Guide (2)
  • Wellesley's Wonderful Weekend (20)

© 2023 The Swellesley Report
Site by Tech-Tamer · Login