CHOICES FOR THE MEDFIELD STATE HOSPITAL SITE ARE A WONDERFUL DILEMMA FOR THE TOWN

The state, by way of the new DCAM Commissioner, Carole Cornelison, is telling Medfield that the door is wide open to potential uses of the former Medfield State Hospital site.  As the residents now rethink the housing that had already been worked out and consider potential other uses, I think that as we, as a town, now decide what would be the best use of the site in the town’s eyes, we need to evaluate the options in terms of the how the major variables will effect the town.

The first, and most important variable the residents needs to consider is the cost to the town to provide municipal services to what gets developed at the site.  Under that municipal services rubric, housing would probably be the most expensive of any possible uses I can imagine, due the associated educational costs.  Business and education uses might draw on town water, sewer, police and fire services, but little effect the educational services part of the town budget, and hence have a lesser budget cost impact on the town.

The second biggest variable for residents to consider would be the property taxes to be derived by the town from the potential use.  Of the most commonly suggested uses, a business use would probably generate the greatest return to the town in the property taxes charged over and above the costs of town services provided.  Housing can generate a positive return to the town if the units are configured as condominiums and/or apartments in attached structures with limited numbers of bedrooms and age restrictions.  Educational uses are typically tax exempt, so the town would get no property tax revenue at all.

The rest of the variables the residents should consider, other than the big two of the municipal services to be provided and the property taxes to be received, I put together in a catch all amorphous area of what are the benefits and/or costs to the quality of life in Medfield.  Under this category I would list such things as noise, traffic, congestion, the visual environment, opportunities for residents to share the use at the site, and meeting certain thresholds.

My thoughts on some of the generally proposed ideas:

College:  I think that we all tend to think of the Medfield State Hospital as a possible site for a college, just because of the way that the building already look so much like a typical New England college.  Whether that would be the best use of the site in the town’s eyes needs to be evaluated in terms of the variables that effect the town.
•    Campuses look beautiful
•    Students tend to keep later hours than other residents
•    Students tend to be noisier than other residents
•    Colleges usually have interesting things happening
•    Colleges pay no property taxes

Business:  
•    Jobs
•    Property taxes to the town
•    Probably few synergies for residents to use the site

Housing:
•    Medfield needs more housing opportunities for older citizens
•    Medfield needs more affordable housing
•    Having 10% affordable housing prevents 40B projects where we do not want them

Sports/Fitness Complex:
•    Jobs
•    Property taxes for town
•    Use of the facility by town residents
•    Town needs a swimming pool
•    Could look nice
•    Could add to interest and quality of life in town

Golf course:
•    Beautiful looking
•    Municipal golf courses generally make no money
•    Private country clubs are not available to most residents

The different potential uses of the Medfield State Hospital site all involve a balancing of competing costs and benefits.  It is a wonderful dilemma for the town residents to have, to revisit the choices and to take part in deciding what will happen to this significant and most beautiful part of our town.  I look forward to working with you to get it done.