A household word in Revere for 30 years! Vol. 31, No.3 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net City closes in on Wonderland as new high school site By Adam Swift T he former Wonderland dog park is one vote away from being the site of the new Revere High School. Last week, the Revere High School Building Committee unanimously selected the Wonderland site as the preferred option for a new high school building over the current high school site. Last Tuesday night, the School Committee unanimously voiced its support for that option. This coming Monday night, the City Council is expected to vote on the Wonderland option. If the City Council votes in the affi rmative, architects will begin the process of drawing up more detailed schematic plans for a new high school. The advantages of the Wonderland site that have been touted by the project team consisting of representatives from owner’s project manager LeftField and architect Perkins Eastman include the ability to build on the site in a single phase with less disruption than building at the current site while school is in session and the ability to keep the current high school site in play as a future home of a new unifi ed middle school. The Wonderland option has a lower overall price tag than the options presented for the current high school, with early estimates around $375 million. But the city would have to shoulder a slightly higher cost, paying approximately $247 million because the Massachusetts School Building Authority does not reimburse for land acquisition costs. LeftField Senior Project Manager Brian Dakin said the initial estimates put the cost of taking about 24 acres of the Wonderland property at about $23 million. The remaining approximately eight acres of the property could be opened to private development, bringing in tax revenue that in turn could help cover the costs of the land acquisition. Dakin has estimated that the new high school would be open for students by the summer of 2026. During Tuesday’s School Committee vote, committee member Michael Ferrante did raise some questions about the acquisition and cost of the Wonderland property, including if SCHOOL | SEE Page 16 Cambio único en los lugares de voto para los Votantes en los distritos 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 Ciudad de Revere Habrá una elección especial (pregunta de boleta) para el Distrito Escolar Vocacional Regional Metropolitano del Noreste el martes 25 de enero de 2022 de 11:00 a.m. a 6:00 p.m. Para esta única elección, todos los votantes de Revere emitirán sus votos en St. Anthony’s Church, 250 Revere Street, Revere, MA 02151 (Sala de bingo, entrada trasera). Esta ubicación es accesible para discapacitados. Por favor, no vaya a su precinto / ubicación de votación habitual solo para esta elección. Por favor, practique el distanciamiento social y, si es posible, use una cubierta facial. Comuníquese con el Departamento de Elecciones al 781-286-8200 si tiene preguntas. Gracias. La Junta de Comisionados de Elecciones, Ciudad de Revere By Adam Swift I n her role as Public Art Commission Chair, Ward 1 City Councillor Joanne McKenna continues to push for a city arts center at the long-closed Beachmont Fire Station. McKenna and the other members of the commission have discussed the use of the fi re station as an arts center with studios, lofts, galleries and public meeting spaces since the new comFree Every Friday 781-286-8500 Friday, January 21, 2022 Lady Patriots beat Everett in squeaker BATTLE HARD: Lady Patriot Elaysia Lung battles Everett forward Japhnie Pierre during Tuesday’s action in Everett. Revere won, 46-45 in a GBL battle. See page 11 for photo highlights. (Advocate photo by Mike Riley) McKenna continues push for Beachmont Arts Center at former fire station One-Time Change in Voting Locations for Voters in Wards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 City of Revere There will be a special election (ballot question) for the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For this one election only, all Revere voters will cast their ballots at St. Anthony’s Church, 250 Revere Street, Revere, MA 02151 (Bingo Hall, Rear Entrance). This location is handicap accessible. Please do not go to your usual voting precinct/location for this one election only. Please practice social distancing and mask wearing, if possible. Contact the Election Department at 781-286-8200 with questions. Thank you. Board of Election Commissioners, City of Revere JOANNE MCKENNA Ward 1 Councillor mission began meeting about a year ago. Because of the state of the building, the commission members have been unable to get a closer look inside the fi re station, but that might be changing soon. “The DPW has agreed to do the cleanout; we are just waiting for that to happen,” said Elle Baker, the city’s Open Space and Environmental Project Planner. She said the Public Works Department has been in touch with the Fire Department about what materials in the station need to be saved and what ARTS | SEE Page 5
2 Publizr Home