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Salem State University Neighborhood Advisory Committee Minutes 8/21/2013
Salem State University Neighborhood Advisory Committee
August 21, 2013 – Minutes
6:00pm - SSU Central Campus - Enterprise Center Training Room B

Attendees:      Jason Doviak, Marcia Lambert, Adria Leach, Dana Lothrop, Dominick Pangallo, and Josh Turiel

Absent:         Maureen Call, Jack Hoar, Robert McCarthy, Shawn Newton, Joseph O’Keefe, and Jim Rose

Guests:         Edward Adelman (MSCBA), Joe Berry (Lee Kennedy, Co.), Leif Lamoray (Leftfield Inc.) & Beth Bower (Salem State University)

CITY ANNOUNCEMENT
  • Resignation of Dave Coleman – Dominick Pangallo
  • The committee thanked Mr. Coleman for his service to the community and welcomed Dana Lothrop as the newest member representing Ward 7.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
  • Library/Learning Commons Update – Joe Berry
  • The building is substantially complete, and move in is in progress. The interim library will be closed on Friday, August 23 at 5 p.m. to accommodate the move.
  • The contractor has begun drilling wells for the new geothermal units in the quad area in front of the building. The drilling will be complete in mid-September, and the installation of the units will be complete in mid-October.
  • The building will be open to the public on September 3. An open house will be announced this fall.
  • Phase II Deconstruction – Joe Berry
  • The deconstruction is on schedule, and the building is being deconstructed from the top down.
  • A high-reach excavator will be brought in on Thursday, August 29 at 6 a.m. The early delivery time is due to the wide-load restrictions on public roads.
  • The demolition is anticipated to be complete by the end of November.
  • Fitness & Recreation Center Addition – Leif Lamoray
  • The building is substantially enclosed.
  • Anticipated delays from utility work has pushed the completion date to mid to late October.
National Grid is mobilized on Atlantic Avenue, Loring Avenue and Linden Street to bring new electrical service to the building. No disruption of service is expected.

ISSUES IN PROGRESS
  • Neighborhood Disturbances
  • No complaints were reported to committee members.
  • Upcoming Projects
  • Master Vision Update – Beth Bower
  • In April of this year, the university and Sasaki Associates presented the university’s master vision plan to the year 2040. Projects covered in the SSUNAC meetings are in line with both the master vision and the overarching goals of the university’s strategic plan, which center on student success. Ms. Bower reviewed highlights from the master vision plan (this presentation can be viewed at www.salemstate.edu/construction).
  • Recent needs that were identified and are being met through projects from the previous year include a new library and new fitness center.
  • Additional needs from the master vision plan that are in process or are being reviewed include a new residence hall, renovation to the Mainstage Theatre, and a parking garage.
  • Comments/Questions from the community
  • What development is being considered for the former Weir property? – The university will revisit plans from the Sasaki study completed in 2008 along with the goals of the master vision when considering development of this site.
  • A neighbor expressed concern regarding surveyors in the neighborhood entering their property. – The university apologized for the inconvenience and is working with the surveyors on proper notification to abutters. The purpose of the survey was to gain accurate measurements of the university’s property line.
  • 2015 Residence Hall – Edward Adelman
  • Provided a history of the Massachusetts State College Building Authority (MSCBA) and its purpose in the planning, design and construction of revenue generating facilities, including residence halls, dining facilities, recreation space, and parking structures, at state university campuses. Massachusetts receives taxes from MSCBA which is then used to fund academic spaces on campuses.
  • MSCBA issues bonds that are paid through the collection of student fees.
  • The demand for housing has grown at the university. The new hall will house approximately 400 students.
  • Mr. Adelman reviewed options considered for the new residence hall (this presentation can be viewed at www.salemstate.edu/construction). Considerations included available space and access to complementary facilities for resident students.
  • Site 1 was located in the parking lot next to the former library building. Site 2 was located in the Central Campus parking lot in front of the Enterprise Center, overlapping with Campus Police.
  • Site 2 was selected for the residence hall, because Marsh Hall Dining Commons has capacity for increased dining and Central Campus already has a significant housing presence. The Campus Police building will be demolished, and the department will move into the first floor of the Classroom Building on Central Campus which was used for interim library space.
  • The project is in the very early stages. The engineers are evaluating the site for utilities and foundations. Architectural design is anticipated to be ready for the October SSUNAC meeting.
  • Parking Garage – Edward Adelman
  • Parking is already a deficiency on campus. There is a near term need for a parking structure on campus.
  • An RFP has gone out for a study for a parking garage at Salem State University. Mr. Adelman reviewed sites under consideration for this structure (this presentation can be viewed at www.salemstate.edu/construction). Once a firm is selected, the firm will evaluate the areas under consideration which include the lower parking lot on North Campus behind Peabody Hall and the back parking lot on Central Campus behind the Enterprise Center.
Updates on this and all projects will be provided through the SSUNAC meetings.
Comments/Questions
  • How many floors will be included in the garage? – The number of floors will be determined through the study.
  • How many parking spaces will be displaced by the residence hall project? – 157
  • What is the payment structure for the garage? – The payment structure is the same as the residence halls.
  • Why not put the garage in first? – The university would lose parking spaces for a longer period of time if the garage was built first, adding an additional semester of lost parking. Housing more students will also reduce the need for parking because it decreases the number of students commuting to campus. Surface parking will be established on the Weir property to accommodate some of the loss of parking during construction. It is not determined who will be permitted to park in this lot.
  • If student success is the focus, will there be additional residence halls built? – The Master Vision evaluated additional sites for residence halls. The university will evaluate need for increased housing before moving forward with additional residence hall projects.
  • Will traffic impact studies be completed for the parking garage project? – Yes
  • Will the number of students increase? – The university is not increasing the number of admitted students, but retention of existing students will increase student population.
  • Would it be more cost effective to use generic building structures than hiring a designer for a residence hall or parking garage? – No. Although the facilities have a tremendous amount of similarities, specifics around site location require more intensive look at design.
  • Have you considered building a residence hall downtown? – Some campuses have residence halls that are off campus, but it does not provide the same student experience that leads to greater levels of student success.
  • How many students are enrolled right now? – 7,143 undergraduate students were enrolled last fall; of these 6,200 are full-time, day students. There are 2,001 beds on campus at this time.
  • Are there any plans for developing more housing at South Campus? – The master vision plan recommended that housing be more centralized to reduce vehicular traffic and make the campus a walkable one.
  • Concern about the growth of Salem State and the increased traffic.
  • What about redeveloping the Enterprise Center? – The Master Vision does contemplate repurposing this space in the future, but would require the relocation of the Enterprise Center functions. The timeline on this is not yet determined.
  • Can you prevent freshmen from bringing cars to campus? – Yes. Freshmen are already not allowed to bring cars to campus.
  • Does Salem State have 11,000 students? – The university has 10,009 students in total, including graduate and evening students.
  • What are the plans for the Salem Diner? – The university is pleased to have this historic asset and is hoping to open it in the near future.
  • Can you build over the police station instead of relocating it? – The structure is not one that would allow another building to be built over it.
  • How many stories is the new residence hall, and what is the design? – The university and MSCBA will come back to SSUNAC when more details on design have been developed.
  • Mainstage Theatre – Adria Leach
  • The university expects to bring a design to the SSUNAC in the coming months for the renovation of the Mainstage Theatre.  Construction is anticipated to start in late spring 2014 and the new theatre is expected to open in early 2016.
  • Crossing at Former Weir Property and Central Campus – Beth Bower
  • The university plans to demolish the blue building at the property and increased surface parking. Mitigation for crossing will be determined once there is a plan for how the new lot will be accessed.
NEW BUSINESS
  • Key Dates for University Opening
  • Sunday, 9/1– Move in of freshman on North Campus; move-in times are staggered to avoid congestion.
  • Monday, 9/2 – Move in of Marsh Hall
  • Tuesday, 9/3 – Move in of Atlantic Hall and Bates Complex
  • Wednesday, 9/4 – Opening Day of Classes
  • Smoking on the Bike Path – A neighbor expressed concern with students smoking on the bike path and littering. – The university is working with the city on this issue and is continue to educate students on the tobacco free policy and being a good neighbor.
DEFERRED ITEMS
  • Alumni Field Lights
MEETING SCHEDULE
  • The next meeting of the SSUNAC will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. in the Enterprise Center Training Room B located on Central Campus at 121 Loring Avenue.