With Designer, Project Manager on Board, Pool Committee Accelerating Mission

The future of a new Underwood Pool is moving quickly into the high-speed lane on the highway towards a decision by Belmont voters.

But it's still to be seen if there are speed bumps as the project heads to the ballot in the Town Election in five months.

Underwood Pool Building Committee Chair Anne Paulsen told the Belmont Board of Selectmen earlier this week planning for a new outdoor community swimming facility to replace the existing pool that has stood on the corner of Concord Avenue and Cottage Street for 101 years is on "an accelerated calendar" after discussions with Belmont Town Manager David Kale.

Paulsen said the aim of speeding up the creation of a design and public involvement in the project is to have an all-but-completed blueprint and program for a future pool to present to town voters in April 2014 who will be asked to approve a debt exclusion for a yet to be determined amount.

The exclusion will finance a new facility to replace the current threadbare pool and bathhouse that has required a long list of exemptions to state and town health codes to open for the two-and-a-half month long season. 

Part of the new up tempo process has been the committee's selection of both a project manager and designer for the new pool. 

On Tuesday, Oct. 29, the committee selected Bargmann Hendrie and Archetype, Inc. as the facility designer. BH&A is the same firm the town hired a year ago to conduct a feasibility study that offered three pool designs for the site.

In fact, the committee was using one of the designs, priced at $4.5 million, which included lap swimming, walk-in infants area and a deep end with a diving board, as a template of interests to be included in a new pool. 

BH&A, which is located in Boston's Seaport District, is a larger firm with more inhouse capability, noted Paulsen, where the other firm considered, GMI Architects, contracts with a reputable firm, Aquattica Pools and Water Parks, that is located in New York.

"[T]he committee thought it would be advantageous to have a firm that has more of its professionals working within the firm," said Paulsen. She also said the members were impressed that BH&A, after working with the town last year, did not come the the interview thinking "they had a leg-up but were extremely well prepared with good ideas that went beyond their initial study."

Last week, the committee selected Pinck & Co. of Boston to be the owner's project manager. Company owner Jennifer Pinck has a personal connection to the Underwood; she grew up in Belmont and sent summers swimming and diving in the pool, according to Paulsen.

The committee will meet with the firms next Tuesday, Nov. 5.

What hasn't been determined is the exact cost of the project and the amount voters will be asked to approve in new short-term debt at April's election. The committee is working with the Selectmen and Town Treasurer, Floyd Carman, as the project moves forward, said Paulsen, "but we are cognizant of the amount in the feasibility study ($4.5 million) and will use that as our benchmark."

In the past, Carman said Community Preservation Committee funds could be used in some way to reduce the debt burden on the community. 

What concerns Paulsen is while the pool enjoys support from many areas of the community, unlike a PTA for a school or a friends group for playgrounds and education, the Underwood does not have a natural advocacy group that would seek support for its replacement from voters.

What is needed, Paulsen noted to the Selectmen, was the creation of a independent group that will spearhead the various supporters to the mission of passing the exclusion. 

Next for the committee will be a public meeting in which the community is invited on Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Chenery Middle School at 7:30 p.m. and that will be followed by a community working session a few days later.

Paulsen said residents will tour the pool site and playground and then draw out some suggestions or write down their impressions of the area.

"We hope children of all ages will participate," said Paulsen.

"This pool is for the whole community and the committee wants to hear from everyone who wants to enjoy the pool in the future," said Paulsen.