‘Big Number’: New Belmont High School Price Tag Likely Topping $300 Million

By 11 Comments

Photo: Residents viewing designs for the new Belmont High School, Jan. 16.

It was always assumed a new or renovated Belmont High School would cost a pretty penny for taxpayers.

After Tuesday’s joint public meeting led by the Belmont High School Building Committee, residents now have a clearer idea of the price tag to build a new school will require a whole lot of pennies, as in about 31 billion one-cent coins.

That’s the outcome of the initial financial analysis by Daedalus Project Company’s Tom Gatzunis, the owner’s project manager for the Belmont High School Project, who presented his work to a joint meeting of the Building Committee, the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee as well as a number of residents at the Chenery Middle School on Jan. 16.

“We are giving you a brief snapshot of where we are of the cost of all the different scenarios,” said Gatzunis, pointing out the analysis presented initial cost projections for four designs – two that are minor renovation/major additions, a major renovation/minor addition and all new construction – in three grade configurations; 9th to 12th, 8th to 12th, and 7th to 12th grades.

With the focus of the joint committee on building a 7th to 12th-grade structure – which would not require the town to build a new elementary school if a 9th through 12th scheme is chosen or commit to costly revamping classrooms in an 8th through 12th grade blueprint – the project price tag for a new high school including construction and soft cost would come to approximately $310 million for a 410,000 sq.-ft. multi-story building housing 2,215 students.

Go to the Belmont High School Building Committee webpage to see an updated designs from architect Perkins+Will and financial data from Daedalus.

If approved by Town Meeting and voters through a debt exclusion vote, the new Belmont high school would be one of the most expensive ever built in the US, trailing only two mega schools in Los Angeles. Locally, it would top the current priciest high school in Somerville at $257 million and the proposed new building in Waltham at $283 million and dwarfing the controversial Newton North High School that came in at $197.5 million that opened in 2010.

Belmont will not be on the hook for the entire amount. About 36 percent of the construction cost or $81 million will be absorbed by the Massachusetts School Building Authority which is working closely with the Building Committee on the project. With the reimbursement calculated into the cost, Belmont’s share of the project comes to approximately $231 million.

What the $231 million expense means to taxpayers was explained by Town Treasurer Floyd Carman who said at 4 percent interest over 30 years of level payments, real estate property taxes would increase by $184 per $100,000 of assessed value beginning in 2020, the year construction would start. 

Below is a chart of the yearly real estate tax increase for homes at three assessed values:

  • $500,000 – $920
  • $750,000 – $1,387
  • $1 million (the average residential assessment in Belmont as of fiscal 2018) – $1,840

“The numbers are the numbers,” explained Carman.

There are less expensive options including renovating the existing school with not additions or new construction at $124 million with Belmont picking up $92 million. And a 9-12 school would be in the $180 million range, which does not include the cost of a new elementary school that Belmont Superintendent John Plehan has said would be required to meet the ever-increasing enrollment numbers in Belmont’s school.

Phelan said if any of the 9-12 designs are selected, the town would need to come up with between $72 million to $82.5 million for a new elementary school and renovations at three of the four elementary schools and the Chenery.

Whether it was sticker shock or the outcome of the analysis was expected, committee members and the public did not have any immediate reaction to the big numbers generated by the project. 

“Wow, I thought there would be a lot more questions,” said Building Committee Chair William Lovallo. He noted that the committee will not return to the cost component until mid-summer “when we will have better numbers.” 

The next joint meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 23 when the School Committee will vote on a grade configuration moving forward while the Building Committee will select a design scheme. 

Historic: Garvin Sworn In As Belmont’s First Female Town Administrator

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Patrice Garvin being sworn in by Town Clerk Ellen Cushman as Belmont first female town administrator.

Town Clerk Ellen Cushman was ready with the official signing in book, two of the three selectmen were in place and the Board of Selectmen’s table was festooned with sweets and pastries.

And a few minutes after 8 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 16, history was made as Patrice Garvin was sworn in as Belmont’s first permanent female town administrator.

“I’m very excited and I’m looking forward to working with everybody in the town of Belmont. Looking to get going,” said Garvin who received a round of applause after Cushman made her appointment official. The swearing in was Garvin’s second public event in Belmont as she attended the annual Martin Luther King Community Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 15 where she was introduced to many residents. Garvin was offered the job in December after a long search process to find a replacement for David Kale, who returned to Cambridge after four years in Belmont.

Garvin has a three-year contract running through Jan. 15, 2021 with options to extend her employment. Garvin will receive an annual salary of $168,000.

Garvin said that she hoped her first day would not “be too overwhelming” and was looking forward to meeting more of the staff “and have more conversations and dive right in.” She believed her main goal in the next few months – during which the town budget takes center stage – is to meet and discuss with each department head their budgets in detail “and those are the conversations I want to have.” 

As with any out-of-town commuter, the Chelmsford resident found the town’s congested roads and business centers “challenging but indicative of this area.” Before he left, Williams provided Garvin with the location of the “secret” parking space only known to certain selectmen and now her. 

Every little bit of advice helps when you’re new in town.

Town Election ’18: School Committee’s Caputo Eyes William’s Selectman Seat

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Tom Caputo

Nearly a year after securing his first full three-year term on the Belmont School Committee, Tom Caputo is thinking of a higher calling having taken out nomination papers for the Board of Selectmen.

In a conversation with the Belmontonian, Caputo appears ready to start a campaign to wrest away the seat from its incumbent, Jim Williams. 

In his “elevator pitch” for the position, Caputo points to many challenges facing the board in the near future and his skills to find solutions. 

“Simply put, the town has a bunch of critical decisions that we need to make in the coming years, questions about the new high school, major capital projects, traffic and those will all require thoughtful, creative solutions where lots of people with different backgrounds come together to create workable solutions,” he said.

“It all has to be done under which will continue to be a challenging fiscal environment. My time on the school committee, my experience on the [Belmont] High School Building Committee has given me both an understanding of a lot of those key issues and a passion to do more and be a part of trying to solve those problems.”

“I’m excited to continue to contribute to the town and its residents,” he said.

Both Williams and Caputo have yet to return their nomination papers to the Town Clerk’s Office. All town-wide office seekers and town meeting candidates have until Feb. 13 at 5 p.m. In September 2017, Williams said he would not run for re-election but did so including several caveats that would change his decision. 

Caputo was appointed to the School Committee in Nov. 2014 to replace Kevin Cunningham who resigned. At the town election in April 2015, Caputo ran uncontested for the two-years remaining in Cunningham’s term. In April 2017, he won a three-year appointment with 3,014 votes running with Kate Bowen to fill two slots.

For the past year, Caputo has been senior vice president for product at Cambridge-based CarGurus, a publicly-traded online car shopping website founded in 2006 by Langley Steinert, co-founder of TripAdvisor.

Caputo matriculated at Dartmouth then headed to Stanford where he earned an MBA and MS in electrical engineering. He started his career at Microsoft.

A decade-long resident, Caputo lives on Richmond Road with his wife, Sarah, and 11-year-old twin daughters.

Free NARCAN® Training for Belmont Residents This Thursday

By Leave a Comment

Photo: NARCAN nasal spray.

Free NARCAN® Training for Belmont residents will take place on Thursday, Jan. 18 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. This training is sponsored by the Belmont Substance Use Coalition.

If you, or someone you love, has been prescribed an opioid, such as oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percoset), hydrocodone (Vicodin), or hydromorphone (Dilaudid), or if you know someone who struggles with opioid addiction, come get trained on the use of this life-saving medication.

NARCAN® (naloxone HCl) is a nasal form of naloxone, approved by the FDA for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose – it counteracts the life-threatening effects of the overdose. Since most accidental overdoses occur in a home setting, it was developed for use by first respondents, as well as family, friends, and caregivers.

Space at this free training is limited to 25 people, so reserve your spot now, by sending an email request to: Lisa_Gibalerio@WaysideYouth.org.

il Casale Team Opening New Belmont Center Restaurant in Early Summer

By Leave a Comment

Photo: The de Magistris’ new eatery “The Wellington” will be a similar size to the flagship il Casale restaurant.

Residents will have a new dining option as the Belmont family that runs il Casale will open its newest eatery in the early summer in the building that houses Foodies and the Belmont Book Store.

The “The Wellington” was presented before the Belmont Board of Selectmen last week as the de Magistris family sought a full-alcohol license for the second of the family’s businesses in Belmont Center, following their award-winning restaurant at 50 Leonard St. 

The license was approved unanimously by the board on Jan. 8. 

The family first approached the town in July 2017 when it presented its designs to the Planning Board which took some issue with the parking spaces allocated to the business. The application was approved in September. 

The new restaurant will be “a little more casual than what you may recall at il Casale, more modern American fare (“hamburgers and oysters,” according to Dante de Magistris), a fresh seasonal menu that will change … and meeting the ever-growing demand foreign and vegetarian options” in the $11 to $16 range for “burger and  and $21 to $31 for entrees. There will also be a brunch menu.  

The location – which will have entries on Leonard Street and adjacent the Claflin Street parking lot – will be open for lunch at 11 a.m. and dinner until 10 p.m. with a bar featuring craft beers and handmade cocktails. There will also be a brunch menu.  

The new eatery will mirror il Casale in size and occupancy, taking up 3,500 sq.-ft. in the first-floor dining area – with 2,000 sq.-ft. in the lower level taken up by office and storage space – will have 133 seats with 21 bar seating with an occupancy of 200, nearly identical to the de Magistris’ flagship operation.

Belmont Boys’ Hockey Hit By Rockets; Girls’ Hockey’s Unhappy New Year

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont’s Alec Moran (6) stopped by Reading’s Matt Coughlin on Saturday’s game.

Boys’ Hockey

After an inspiring 4-3 victory over perennial powerhouse Winchester midweek, Belmont High hockey was anxious to meet another tough Middlesex League opponent in Reading Memorial High which came to the “Skip” for a Saturday afternoon matinee looking up at the Marauders in the league standings.

But the intensity and breaks came from the Rockets bench – which included seven coaches – as Reading handed Belmont its second loss of the season with a 4-1 victory on Jan. 13.

Reading produced the most chances through the game with Belmont goalie Kevin Dacey required to make a series of difficult saves throughout the game while the Marauders offense which has been led by senior winger Steve Rizzuto – who scored his third hattrick of the season against Winchester – was stifled by Reading’s Matt Coughlin in net with 21 saves and a crew of big and mobile defenders.

Reading dictated the game’s pace and direction scoring early through junior forward Mike Tobin (who is a verbal commit in lacrosse to UMass-Amherst) just a minute in. Belmont came close to knotting the game from its top line of Connor Dacey, Will Dominiconi and Rizzuto who kept Coughlin busy.

The Rockets (7-2) doubled its lead even earlier in the second period than the first, after only 45 seconds with Tobin earning the brace from an excellent pass from Jake Emery. With less than five minutes remaining in the second Reading broke through again, with senior Dan Cranitch beating Dacey on a rising wrist shot glove side. 

Belmont’s best chances came down three as the Marauders dominated the remainder of the period but did not have anything to show for it at the end of two. 

An up and down third culminated in an open net by Matt Florenza with 20 seconds left. Belmont did spoil Coughlin’s away shutout as Tim Bailey took a Dennis Crowley pass and beat the goalie just before the buzzer. After some debate, the goal was allowed for the 4-1 final.

Belmont is 5-2-3 entering its Martin Luther King Day match with Catholic Memorial. (Late edit: Belmont earns a hard-earned tie with CM with a goal from, who else, Steve Rizzuto.)

Girls perfect 2017 leads to imperfect 2018 

Belmont High Girls Hockey was on fire in the first part of the season, specifically in 2017 when it rushed off to a 6-0-0 record with a high powered scoring offense, averaging four goals a game, with a bend but not break defense. 

But when the calendar changed to 2018, what was ablaze was extinguished as the Marauders are 0-4 for ’18. While some of the reason is the top quality match-ups – including meeting the defending state champions and the top-ranked team this season – two defeats came on consecutive Saturdays where Belmont could not hold onto late leads away from home. 

Not that Belmont has lost its scoring touch as the team is averaging three goals per game, but rather it would appear to be an inability to sustain a team confidence it held earlier in games.

Belmont did perform well against both Woburn (’17 state champs) and Winchester (a top 5 team the entire season) losing 4-2 and 5-3. What has been troubling has been the Saturday Night Falls. Against Lexington, the team let go of a two-goal lead in its 4-3 loss. This past Saturday, Belmont arrived at the Burbank Ice Rink to meet a Rocket team that was on its own three-game losing streak. After a first period knotted at one, Belmont scored twice to lead 3-1 at the end of the second period.

But as with its game against the Minutemen, Belmont saw the Rockets dominate the third, scoring four unanswered goals to fall 5-3 and see its record dip to 6-4-0. Belmont will be away from “The Skip” until next month, Feb. 4, when they host Newton South. 

Fire Damages Several Businesses in Cushing Square

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont Fire Chief David L. Frizzell at the scene

A building’s sprinkler system did its job preventing a fire from spreading and allowed the Belmont Fire Department to extinguish a one-alarm blaze that damaged three businesses in Cushing Square around 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14.

A fire alarm was activated at 8:23 p.m. at 448 Common St. in what is called The Spirited Gourmet Building, said Belmont Fire Chief David L. Frizzell at the scene. When fire equipment arrived two minutes later, the fire control panel indicated a blaze in Pilgrim Shoe Repair.

Upon gaining access, crews discovered the store full of smoke and small fire in the back corner of the operation.

“The sprinkler’s worked controlling the fire long enough for our personnel to knock it down,” said Frizzell. Fire crews spent nearly two hours searching for “hot spots” in the walls and ceiling. Besides the Pilgrim, water damage was reported in The Spirited Gourmet and the Fred Astaire Dance Studio.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.

Belmont Boys Hoops On Winning Track Beating Reading; Girls’ 11s Upend Rockets

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont’s Danny Yardemian driving to the basket.

Coming off an away loss to Winchester, Belmont High Boys’ Basketball got back on the winning side of the ledger defeating a tenacious Reading Memorial High Rockets team, 68-58, on a warm and rainy Friday night, Jan. 12, at the Wenner Field House.

Led by all-star junior shooting guard Danny Yardemian with 26 points, The Marauders’ faced an early seven-point deficit, 13-6, with time running out in the first quarter when Yardemian hit a pair of critical jumpers to spark a 6-0 run to cut the Rocket lead to 1, 13-12, at the end of eight minutes. 

With Yardemain forced off the court to have a bloody knee repaired, two Belmont underclassmen came off the bench to spark the offense with freshman Tim Minicozzi (8 points) scoring three buckets on a drive and a pair of jumpers while point guard sophomore Mac Annus (7 points) buried a Steph Curry-esque trey from long distance to up the lead to 26-18.

Senior Will Ellet (14 points including 6-8 from the free-throw line) hit one of his favorite “three” from the left side followed by a great heads-up assist by junior Ben Sseruwagi to a wide open Minicozzi with a second left in the half gave Belmont an eight-point lead, 34-26, at the end of two quarters.

Yardemian’s 11 points in the third upped the lead to 11, 55 to 44, at the end of the quarter, and when Ellet hit his second 3 of the night, the Marauders took its largest lead at 60-44 with 6:40 remaining. But Reading, which nearly beat a Winchester team that defeated Belmont three nights before, used a tight man-to-man defense led by junior Matt Sannella’s dogged covering of Yardemian (no points in the fourth) to cool down the hosts. And behind sophomore guard Matt Mulvey (14 points) and senior guard Matt Panacopoulos (10 points) with identical score lines in the quarter – a three, a hoop and two free throws – the Rockets went on a 12-0 run to cut the lead to four, 60-56, with two and half minutes to play.

But missing its chance to get closer with a missed three, the Rockets left Annus free to find an open shot that fell in for a big two points that gave the Marauders a cushion they kept to the end.

Belmont sits at 5-3 as they await its non-conference game with Bishop Stage on Sunday, Jan. 13 before travelling to Lexington on Wednesday, Jan. 16 during exam week. 

Five Marauders in double-digit scoring, down hosts Reading

Belmont saw four players scoring 11 points with a freshman lead the team in scoring for the fourth time this season as the Marauders pulled away from hosts Reading to win going away, 69-55, on Friday, Jan. 12. 

Belmont freshman Maiya Bergdorf came off the bench and score 18 points, while senior captains Greta Propp and Jenny Call along with junior guard Megan Tan all hit for 11 points. Junior center Jess Giorgio had a double/double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. 

Leading scorer for Reading and the game was junior Haley Lightbody with 20 points. Senior Kate Nestor chipped in, you guessed it, 11 points.

Belmont will take its 7-1 record into its Wednesday game with Lexington at the Wenner.

‘A Woman’s Place’ Opening Wine Reception Sat. Jan. 13; Gallery Talk Sunday

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Poster for the show

The Belmont Gallery of Art, located on the third floor in the Homer Building in the Town Hall complex, is hosting a wine reception on Saturday, Jan. 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to celebrate the opening of the exhibits “A Woman’s Place” and “The House Dress Project”

The special exhibit of feminist and women’s stories by 14 women artists who address being female in the 21st century will run from Jan. 13 to March 10.

There will be Gallery Talk with Kimberly Becker, the special guest curator of the exhibit, on Sunday, Jan. 14, at 2 p.m.

The gallery is located in the Homer Municipal Building, third floor, 19 Moore St., in Belmont Center.

House Dress by Kimberly Becker
Art by Eva Camacho

Stories Come Alive at Belmont World Film’s Family Festival This Holiday Weekend

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Windstorm and the Wild Horses

Belmont World Film holds its 15th annual Family Festival, “Where Stories Come Alive,” presented by Jackson-Walnut Park School and Henry Bear’s Park from Jan. 12 to 15, at the Regent Theatre in Arlington (5 Medford Street), Studio Cinema in Belmont (376 Trapelo Road), and Brattle Theatre in Cambridge (40 Brattle Street).

Twelve programs featuring more than 30 top animated and live action children’s films from around the world—many of which are making their international or North American premieres—plus a live version of WBUR’s “Circle Round” will be presented in English and other languages with subtitles from Belgium, Canada, Columbia, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and US. 

“In a world filled with memes and emojis, these films tell rich and unusual stories that don’t rely on special effects to create a sense of wonder,” says Belmont World Film Executive Director Ellen Gitelman.

“Furthermore, in an increasingly multicultural world, parents recognize the importance of fluency in more than one language The Family Festival offers children age 3-12 and their parents, grandparents, and friends the opportunity to hear and understand multiple languages in a fun and natural way.”

Each day revolves around a different theme:

  • Saturday is devoted to aquatic adventures,
  • Sunday to the animal kingdom, and
  • Monday to the heroes in our midst in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Many films are based on children’s literature, including: Zip & Zap and the Captain’s Island, based on the Spanish comic book series; Tales from the Lakeside, an animated coming-of-age film from Hungary based on a book by Judit Berg; and Hedgehog’s Home, an unusual stop-motion short film constructed completely out of felt that is based on a story by Czech writer Branko Copic.

The festival also features short animated films based on children’s books from Weston Woods Studios, including the New England premieres of several newer books, such as 2017 Caldecott Medal winner They All Saw a Cat narrated by John Lithgow, Mo Willems’ popular books such as Knuffle Bunny, and books about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr. Other festival films include stories about spies, reindeer herding, wild horses, brave boats, children overcoming disabilities, and child refugees.

 

SATURDAY, JAN. 13, at the Studio Cinema 

What’s New from Weston Woods Studios, including 2017 Caldecott Medal winner They All Saw A Cat narrated by John Lithgow, Friendshape, Wolfie the Bunny, Duck on a Tractor, Leo: A Ghost Story, School’s First Day of School, and Mother Bruce (10:30 AM, Age 3-8, New England premieres).

Anchors Up: Boat to the Rescue, an original story from Norway about a young rescue boat from a small village that gets promoted to chief rescue boat in a big city harbor and helps to save the world with the help of his village friends (12:00, Age 3-8, International premiere).

Tales from the Lakeside, an animated coming-of-age tale from Hungary, adapted from Judit Berg’s book about the Verdies, the tiny but brave guardians of the lake. (1:30 PM, Age 5-9, East Coast premiere). 

Zip and Zap and the Captain’s Island, a mystery and an adventure about Spanish comic book brothers Zip and Zap, who discover that their parents’ sudden disappearance is related to the mysterious secret behind the island and its curious inhabitants. (3:15 PM, Age 7-12).

SUNDAY, JAN. 15, at the Regent Theatre

WBUR presents: “Circle Round”, a live performance of WBUR’s new storytelling podcast for kids, featuring folktales from around the world, including the Yiddish folktale It Could Always Get Worse and the Romanian folktale Stella and the Dragon, as well as live music (10:30 AM, Age 4-10).

Mo Willems: Bunnies, Pigeons, Mole Rats, Alligators & Dinosaurs, Oh My!, featuring animated versions of the author’s most popular books, including Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, That is Not a Good Idea, Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator, and Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. (11:45 AM, Age 3-8).

Cloudboy, about a shy skateboarder who lives with his father in Belgium, who reluctantly agrees to help herd reindeer during the summer in Lapland with his estranged mother, whose new family lives amongst the Sami, an indigenous reindeer-herding people. (1:15 PM, Age 8-12, East Coast premiere).

Windstorm and the Wild Horses, about a teenage horse whisperer who travels to Spain with her beloved black stallion, Windstorm, after she discovers the breed’s Spanish origins (3:00 PM, Age 7-18, North American premiere).

MONDAY, JAN. 15 at the Brattle Theatre

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., featuring Martin’s Big Words narrated by Michael Clarke Duncan, March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World by Dr. Christina King Farris, Rosa, and He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands (10:30 AM, Age 5-12).

Hero Steps, based on the true-life story of a courageous 10-year-old boy from Colombia with a passion for soccer, whose handicap won’t stop him from fulfilling his dream of playing soccer in an important tournament. Co-presented by Reelabilities Film Festival (12:00, Age 5-12, New England premiere).

Oskar’s America, about a 10-year-old boy who dreams of riding the prairies in America with his mother and attempts to row there from Norway to visit her in a rowboat. Co-presented by Bridges Together. (2:00 PM, Age 9-14, North American premiere).

Brave & Amazing Children, a benefit for the Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center featuring four short films that profile the lives of four child refugees (3:45 PM, Age 9-12, North American premieres).

Festival sponsors include: Jackson Walnut Park School and Henry Bear’s Park (Continent Sponsors); Dutch Culture USA and Boston Volvo Village (Nation Sponsors); German International School of Boston and Mass. Cultural Council (Province Sponsors); and Belmont Books, Belmont Day School, East Boston Savings Bank, Consulate General of Sweden, and Whole Foods (Capital Sponsors). Media sponsors include Boston Central and WBUR. Community partners include Bridges Together, Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, Reelabilities Film Festival, and the Scandinavian Cultural Center.