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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1961-09-25 231-N ORDER231-N Introduced by Councilor Delano, Sept. 25, 1961 CITY OF BANGOR R{T{E }� Receiving Report from Chairman of the SupermterAing School �c Q N Committee Re: Land at Mary Snow School _ By 01a qey Coxwii of the City of Breuer. ORDERED, THAT the attached report from the Chairman of the Superintending School Committee ie hereby received. RECE 90 ISI SEP 21 PN 9:24 CITY CLERK'S Offk6f 'iTy a "4NR. Wifif IN CIT COUNCIL Sept. Z, 1961 PASSED CI CLERK 231-N ORDER Tina .-. Partnl Super.... School Conmittee.. CTairman Re: Mary Snow School Intradviced and Bled by Waotl�en BAHGHH scH30L DEPARTMENT Bangor, Maine September 19, 1961 Be. Carl E. Dolma, Chairman Bangor City Council City Hall Bangor, Maine Deer Mr. Delano: This Is intended to place in writing the substance of our ant conversations concerning the request of the Banger School committee - repeated to the City Council several times over the past few years that additional land be purchased for educational purposes at the Mary Snow School site. The major mtllues of this whale proposal are shown an the attached drawing an 1"/100' scale dared February 6, 1959. You will remember that something over 1.87 acres of Mary Snow area e taken by the State of Maine as part of the layout for Interstate Highway 995. Funds received from that sale were deposited to the credit of the City. Total available undeveloped land in that general area is twelve acres with an assessed valuation (1959) of $12,200.00. Acquisition at that "tire tract would, of worse, be optimum. The City Planner has suggeated a proposed street layout for the back of the lots fronting an Essex Street. The minimum land area proposed to be acquired for school purposes as shown an the map was set at 4.63 acres. This was in six parcels then having an assessed valuation of $2,392.00. Naturally, the mo"C of land That should be added to the present Mary gam site (10 acres lees 1.87 or 8.13 acres) should be determined by the nature of the educational program operating There. Mary Snow houses Grades nae through Six and its enrollment has approached 600. Based upon the State of Maine recommendations; of a minimum elementary school site of five acres, plus an additional acre for sea 100 pupils of ultimate enrollment, there should now be eleven acres at least. three factors should be pointed out, however, which would indicate that eleven acres would be altogether too amall in the not too distant future. First, attention is called to the very rapid growth of been "stmetion is the general area of Lancaster Avenue, off Essex Street. If a short sesta" of East Broadway should be c"sr"eted, all the elementary pupils in this district would be within walking distance of Mary Snap. This would me" a quick rise in war -all enrollment. Second, the Felician Sisters have already indicated to the School Committee the interest of their order in the entire Longfellow School property as a part of the proposed n" St. Joseph's Hospital 2 - between Center and French Streets. If that further step in their hospital expansion should come about, it would be almost automatic to add replacement Kindergarten and First Grade runes, (two of each for 160 pupils) at Nary Saw. Such a relocation would be consistent with the two Wilson reports. Third, the general playground area at Mary Snow needs widening in order to be functional. This space is used not only for school playground purpose, but it is also one of the major areae used by the City Recreational program. The land now used for the Interstate project took way a softball field mail shortened the football practice field used by John Super. The apace proposed for purchase would enable a =on improved recreational layout. now additional point should be made about the present Mary Snow School: the boiler plant and the all-purpose to= are both already big enough for a much larger over-all school. If terms are to be Wiled at Me" Snow, provision would have to be made for an adequate lunch - mm with kitchen facilities, but, otherwise, this school lends itself to expansion about as well as any in the City. In smeary, it would eo o m that the purchase of 4.63 a would, indeed be minimum. Itfa the opinion a£ the School Committee that serious consideration should be given by the City Council to a larger acquisition while the land is still available and in its presently undeveloped state. I will, of course, be happy to provide my further information you might desire. Sincerely Faure. �au.` Milfo F. Cohen Chair Bangor School Committee MpC:da cc. Committee i;l —. cd U� c;i15 �tVW - PV 1 d OS OLc —