Have a Safe & Happy Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Day. Ha Vol. 34, No.2 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Free Every Friday Expensive Choices: City Council presented with two proposals for new high school Pros and cons for building on current school and Wonderland sites By Barbara Taormina B rian Dakin, senior project manager for the high school building project, and members of the design and construction team met with the City Council this week with what councillors and many in Revere have been waiting for: a side-by-side comparison of a new school on the existing site and one at Wonderland. Dakin stressed the need to move forward with a decision by the end of the month and said there needs to be agreement among the School Building Committee, the School Committee and the City Council. Members of the design team showed drawings of interesting and attractive buildings set in both sites. Both plans incorporate goals gathered during public forums and meetings with stakeholders. Both plans begin with a central learning courtyard that encourages community and showcases special programs like robotics and culinary arts. On both sites, four-story academic wings stretch out beyond the courtyard. The diff erences between the two plans are related to the sites and their diff erent benefi ts and challenges. The existing site has an aged culvert that could cost $40 million to replace. If it is damaged by construction, it would bring building to a halt and cost a diffi cult amount of money in lost time and missed deadlines. Also, because the space at the existing site is limited, only one crane can operate. That slows the progress of the project and pushes the opening of the school out to 2029. Demolition of the existing school and cleanup will also push out the opening of the building. Wonderland has some conservation reports that need to be completed, but there’s also a $100 million lawsuit from the former owners, who feel the city underpaid them for their prop781-286-8500 Friday, January 12, 2024 Haas Health & Wellness Center is open, but can it compete with Planet Fitness? By Barbara Taormina A fter more than a year of delays, the Haas Health & WellPATRICK KEEFE, JR. Mayor erty, which was taken by eminent domain. Building on the existing site means the loss of athletic fi elds for three to fi ve years. The school would be built on Erricola Park, and Ambrose Field would be covered and used for construcSCHOOL | SEE Page 14 A Magical Event at Parks & Rec’s Winter Ball ness Center held its grand opening at the 321 Charger St. facility. City offi cials, touting the milestone, highlighted the artifi cial turf fl oors, ADA upgrades, cardio equipment, new tech, and small group exercise rooms for classes, such as spin, yoga, barre, aerobics, aerobic dance, boot camps, self-defense and boxing. The center can accommodate 4,000 to 5,000 members and is aiming to be a magnet for anyone interested in a healthier lifestyle. It’s a far cry from last April when the City’s Chief Financial Offi cer Richard Viscay responded to the City Council’s request for information about the status of the center. Vizcay said the center had a $2.1 million start up budget supported by $30 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, saying the object was to use the one-time money to provide something that gives the city a perpetual benefi t. As of April, the city spent $471,000 on rent and lease payments and another $229,000 on equipment, insurance and upgrades. Viscay said the plan was to open last spring but unforeseen problems HEALTH | SEE Page 15 Warming Center move to City Hall basement deemed a success By Barbara Taormina L ast winter, there was an uproar when the city announced it would open an overnight warming center in the senior center for homeless people and anyone in need of a warm place to stay. Seniors were concerned about disruption of programs and the spread of covid and other illnesses. Some may recall Councillor-At-Large Marc Silvestri’s passionate response that all homeless people needed was a place to stay warm, to stay alive. But in March, after the WarmFROZEN FUN: Beachmont Veterans Memorial School preschooler Maivi, 4, second from left, and her brother, Darnel Salla, 2, with Elsa and Princess Anna from Disney’s “Frozen” during the Parks & Recreation Dept.’s Winter Ball on Saturday at the Springhill Suites Ballroom. Sere photo highlights on page 6. (Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) ing Center closed for the season, Health and Hunman Services Director Lauren Buck called the emergency shelter a success. Buck said there was no spread of illness among Warming Center guests and staff or seniors, and no problems with trash, drugs or alcohol. Revere police were called to the Warming Center three times: once for a medical emergency and two other times for incidents that were quickly resolved. Still, Housing Families, the Malden-based housing advocacy organization which operates the Warming Center for Revere, advised the city to consider another site since the senior center site used two fl oors, which requires more staff and more funding. And that’s what the city has done. The emergency Warming Center is moving to the basement of City Hall. The Warming Center will take the space of the Water and Sewer Billing Department, which has moved to the new Public Works building. Some wondered if the move was being made to accommodate migrant families in need, but city councillors said migrant families were being housed at the city’s hotels. Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky said the change will ease any anxiety seniors have about hosting the Warming Center in their center. “The mayor made the change,” said Novoselsky. “It was his call.”
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