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PORTSMOUTH LISTENS. Middle School Study Circle Group “A1”. STARTING POINTS. Alumni Field Was purchased for fair market value (not a gift) and has a deed restriction that can be removed by means outlined by the City Attorney Educational Narrative
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PORTSMOUTH LISTENS Middle School Study Circle Group “A1”
STARTING POINTS Alumni Field Was purchased for fair market value (not a gift) and has a deed restriction that can be removed by means outlined by the City Attorney Educational Narrative A “Final” design for either site will meet the educational narrative needs
Alumni Field City Council Minutes That the offer of Joseph W. Peirce et al for the sale and conveyance to the City of Portsmouth for the sum of twenty-five hundred ($2,500) of land on Parrott avenue for the purposes of an armory site and for a park… Was contingent upon Armory construction No mention of a gift No thank you to the Peirce Estate
Alumni Field 1913 Portsmouth Herald Article No mention of a gift Purchase for $2,500 1913 City Ledger Payment to Peirce Estate of $2,500 1910 Tax Assessment Land including Mansion valued at $10,000
Alumni Field Summary Not a Trust, no Trustees Not a gift Please Stop calling it the Peirce Land or Peirce Trust Oddly Enough..The Sagamore Creek Site was Purchased with gifted money from the National Park Service for purposes of outdoor recreation land
What criteria should be incorporated into our City’s plans to improve the educational facilities for our 6th, 7th and 8th graders? Preservation Community Accessibility Cost Logistics
Preservation Buildings Environment Wildlife Corridors Portsmouth Identity
Portsmouth Has a History of Preservation 1960s decision to keep the South Mill Pond Chamber of Commerce wanted a parking lot Preserve 40 Homes in the South End Strawbery Banke Museum Federal Government suggested bulldoze for low-income housing
Portsmouth Has a History of Preservation Conversion of Portsmouth Hospital into City Hall Urban Land Institute suggested high end condos First city in NH to adopt Historic District Zoning Realtor groups opposed this Returned Market Square to the Pedestrians Portsmouth Herald opposition
Community School Location should reflect… Portsmouth Specialness Our historic value is unique Students in the center of community Develop students sense of belonging
Accessibility Consider both Students and Public Security provided through proximity Access to communities cultural institutions Strawbery Banke, Library, Music Hall, etc.
Costs Marginal Price differences should not be considered significant Avoid Bias by using separate architect for final design Opportunity Costs should be considered Irrevocable loss of wildlife corridor Never will return to downtown
Logistics More analysis of temporary housing options Short term inconvenience measured against long term benefits Students can learn from inconvenience Power of community Value of history Playing Field Location should NOT be a driving force in locating school building
Closing Statement We all wish to express our appreciation for this unique opportunity to exercise our right to participation in democracy within our special community. We believe that creative ways to address current and future needs for the education of our middle-school children can be devised through renovation of the current school. We further believe that imaginative thinking is called for. We are calling for the kind of thinking that will result in renewed investment in a school that retains its connection with our community and a continued commitment to the highly-valued concept of sustainability. We believe that such an investment will be of greater lasting value financially and culturally to the entire community now and into the future.
portsmouth listens… Thank you for listening!