Conference 7.286::maynard

    Hello,
    
    I spent the first 25 years of my life in Maynard, my parents live there
    and own property there. From what I've read in Livewire, it sounds like
    many (most?) of the employees will be sent to other locations in
    Maynard.
    
    I think another important question is what will the impact be to the
    morale of DEC employees? To me, the Mill is just as much an institution
    as Ken Olsen, and since he is gone, shouldn't employees have something
    to hold onto, some sense of permanency? I am certain that an old
    building like that requires extra cost- of course it is inefficient and
    needs special attention, but isn't it worth it? It is beautiful, it is
    ONE MILLION square feet, and DEC owns it.
    
    Linda

    
    Regarding .1
    
    From what we've heard in my group - there is some new electrical
    standards/guidelines that the Mill will have to meet by the year 1995 
    and from what the talk around here is, the cost outweighs the benefits 
    to the company.  
    
    Just the scuttle-but around here....
    /r<

    Yes, I have heard something to that effect as well. How about getting
    the Mill on the national historical register, if it isn't already- in
    that case would the government help foot the bill? Or contacting "This
    Old House" ("This Old Mill?"). Maybe something could be done to offset
    the cost.
    
    Has anyone beside me jumped to a conclusion as to who might buy it?
    
    Linda

Re: .2 (1995)

Hmmm... Historical site.  Major (largest?) employer in the state.


Does the the word "waiver" come to mind?


- dave

p.s. (comment is in general, not to the author of .2)

    
    	Betcha' the owners of some of these small "lunch-type" places
    ain't too pleased......
    
    Will
    

    I don't feel quite as bad as I did when it was announced that KO was
    resigning (sic), but it's a pretty close second.  As someone who's
    pretty much lived in Maynard my whole life and worked in the Mill for
    the past 14 years, this is depressing.  Although it was announced to
    our group a couple of months ago that we were moving to Littleton, it's
    still a sad day for Digital.  Company soul, spirit, call it what you
    want, but this place has it.  
    
    I'm not looking forward to working in a building that looks as though 
    every office on every floor in every building looks like it was cut out
    of the same mold.
    
    In regard to the property values, my strictly amateur opinion is that
    it won't have much, if any, affect on residential property.  It's not
    as though all the people that work in the Mill live in Maynard.  And
    the majority of those that do (such as myself) will be moving to a 
    nearby facility.  I would think that commercial property is an entirely
    different matter.  This is the worst possible news for the downtown area.  
    Had it been announced that the Mill was SOLD, it would not have been as
    devastating as it is.
    
    I know Frank doesn't like the idea of rumors in notesfiles, but I'll
    throw one out that I've heard.  Ken Olsen is either interested in, or 
    is in the process of, buying Building 23. 
    
    					Steve

On the other hand -- parking has always been cited as an inhibiter to 
various types of businesses looking at sites like downtown and the mall.

If the Mill (or parts of it) were to transition to some form of retail, and
the town purchase one or two of the lots...  this could turn into a plus
overall for the commercial district.


- dave

    If you really want to help the town, tear down 95% of the Mill and put 
    up a Wal-Mart or some other real, big-time, job and moneymaker on the
    site overlooking the pond.  Save the clock tower, fix up Main, Walnut,
    and Thompson Streets - wider and with parking.  
    
    The mill is really historic and everything but a town of 10000 doesn't
    need a million sq feet of empty commercial real estate.  Have hollywood
    come in and film a movie while Wal-Mart is drawing up their plans - in
    fact make it an action thriller and maybe they'll blow it up for the
    movie's climax and pay to haul the rubble away.  What a deal!  

    Regarding 422.2:  The decision on the Mill had NOTHING to do with 
    Electrical Codes, Building Codes, ADA regulations, etc.
    
    Frank

    Regarding .3:  The Mill is not on any Historical Register and is not
    a National Historical Site.  This is intentional, not an oversight.
    
    Think about it:  If the Mill were a declared historical site, Digital
    would not have been able to do all the millions of dollars in upgrades
    and improvements that now make the Mill marketable.  No new entrance,
    no new windows, no Doroit Auditorium, no new lights in the Clock tower,
    no nothing.  
    
    The decision was made a long time ago by Digital and the Maynard
    Historical Society to not pursue Historical Register designation.
    
    I think it was a wise decision....
    
    Frank

    Does that mean it can be (UGH) torn down?  Will Joe Falco buy it?
    (inside joke)
    
    I would much rather see it put to good use - or at least a big chunck of
    it.  I couldn't stand to see a Walmart or any other disgusting building
    in it's place.  
    
    The town is already pretty depressing after 6:00.  I don't think it
    could get worse.
    
    -sandy

    Well, my Wal-Mart idea is not as good as some of those in the rumors
    note, but I would hardly categorize it as disgusting.   I don't like
    the idea of small shops because that's all Maynard has now.  You need
    something big there - call it X.  People drive TO Maynard, go to X,
    then buy books and sportswear and Chinese food and rent videos at the
    existing Maynard businesses.  If X is open after 6pm, all the
    better. And X pays taxes!
    
    Now, there's 20 million sq ft of office space available in the
    Boston area and there's houses and condos for sale everywhere.  However,
    the nearest mall is 35 minutes away - that's why I thought of a major
    retail store.  
    
    I do think leaving it standing there empty for its sentimental value is
    the one thing we don't want to do.
      

			<<RE: Historical Sites>>
Wanted to add some clarification to comments made re: historical sites
and what modifications can be made to them.  I've been involved with the
Spencer Historical Society for 12 years now.  We've had a historical
survey of the town and the central district is on the National Historical
Register.  There are other parts of town that are under consideration for
inclusion...ie. Upper & Lower Wire Village...site of former wire mills.

We've gone through much pain while we watched a magnificent Federalist-
style house being torn down so that the savings bank could put in a new
headquarters.  We agonized and fought with town government to save a
100+ year old firebarn from being razed for a parking lot.  We were
ecstatic when we received grants to restore the downtown to it's early
1900's beauty.  We cried when the Massasoit Hotel burned to the ground.

What does all this say??  Basically that the owner of a building...whether
it's a on the national register or not...can raze the building.  However,
if they want to modify or restore the structure it has to be approved by
the local and state historical commission.  Any work down has to be in
harmony with the original structure, cannot overshadow the prominence of
the original structure, and has to be done in such a way that it can be
taken off in the future and the original restored.

Could the Clock Tower be lighted?  ...Probably, if the light fixtures were
not eyesores and you wouldn't know they were there if removed.  Remember
that when the first electrical generator came on-line at the Mill in 1892
it was used to light the "new" clocktower faces from the inside.  Lights
outside are another issue.

Could the Main Street entrance have been contructed?  Probably not as we
know it today.  However, I've seen modifications to the fronts of buildings
that do not detract from the original.  How do we make a shipping/dock
entrance look presentable?  Use your imagination!

The Gen. Doriot Auditorium??  That one is close to my heart because it was
our Engineering Training group that designed and funded the MLO4-5 
renovations.  Actually, yes, it would qualify.  The architect was very 
careful (as is the rule at the Mill) not to cover up the brickwork and
self-supporting ceiling truss.  The auditorium is in the only place at the
Mill where there was no poles to support the ceiling.  The skylight...that's
a no-no unfortunately.

What many folks think of with historic preservation is what you see and
hear about down on Cape Cod.  That's different.  The communities there have
passed ordinances that tell the homeowners what color to paint their house,
the types of windows and doors, etc.  It's up to each town to vote that into
effect.

What's my message?  The Mill is not a bad site for a business.  It's very
adaptable.  It's served Digital's needs for 35 years and it was a woolen
mill for a little over 100 years.  Today we have "corporate" offices,
manufacturing using robotics and computer-aided design, a proto-type board
shop, package engineering and test labs, and much more!  

For the past few years I've been fortunate to be a "volunteer" tour guide.
We've given tours to many thousands of customers and employees.  I've was also
privileged to partake in the Centennial Celebration of the Mill Clocktower.  
I can't begin to count the number of letters and messages that we've received 
back from customers who said how much seeing the Mill effected their giving 
Digital the contract.  They saw how we cared for and respected our heritage
and how Digital gave back to the community.

This is not an inefficient or unmanageable complex.  All the windows have
been replaced and sealed; the HVAC is computerized and we've given demos
to customers on how to do that; the lighting is computerized and we have
maintenance schedules that provide the optimum time for replacing bulbs,
the roofing material has been replaced with a rubber membrane that's white
for heat reflection; the Mill Pond water feeds the fire sprinkler system
which saves us from using the town water supply...also having the pond
gives us a lower fire insurance rate.  There's probably much more that
I'm overlooking.

If you can't tell by now...I favor "adaptive reuse" of historical buildings.

It can be done!

I believe and pray that the Mill doesn't lose it's character.  I'm really
going to miss having worked here these past six years.

I urge everyone to support the Maynard Historical Society and offer your
help when they need to fight to keep the Mill from being drastically
altered or destroyed.

    Thanks for that info, Nick.  I hear people talking about how the Mill
    is inefficient, expensive to maintain, etc., but I'm also told that it
    is THE least expensive facility we own, for groups to rent space from.
    So who's telling the truth and who's spreading the mistruths?  I have
    my suspicions, but will bite my tongue for now.
    
    					Steve
    

    Does Bob Palmer know the numbers of customers who were so impressed
    with the Mill they gave us the contract?
    
    Hoping the decision is reconsidered,
    
    Linda

    A notes conference has been opened at LSTARK::MILL_MEMORIES to collect
    memories and stories of the Mill. Also to collect ideas for ways to
    re-use the Mill complex.
    
    			Alfred
    
          <<< CVG::LSTARK$DKA200:[PUBLIC.NOTES]MILL_MEMORIES.NOTE;1 >>>
                     -< Uses for and memories of the Mill >-
================================================================================
Note 1.0        Welcome to the Mill Uses and Memories Conference      No replies
CVG::THOMPSON "Radical Centralist"                   38 lines   8-JUN-1993 09:38
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
Over the next two years, Digital will be relocating out of the 
Maynard Mill complex.  The company is looking for reuses of the 
facility which will be good for the community and good for the 
local economy.  At the same time we want to preserve and 
celebrate the memories and traditions that have been associated 
with these unique buildings.

Established by the Mill Relocation Task Force, this notes file is 
intended as an open forum for discussion of suggested reuses of 
the Mill and suggested activities to preserve and celebrate Mill 
memories.  It is also a place to gather the Mill-related 
recollections of all Digital employees.  

This is not the place to discuss details of the relocation as it 
unfolds.  Since that will happen business by business over many 
months and since those plans will be subject to constant revision 
to meet changing business needs, your managers should be your 
main source of information about space allocation and schedule.

Please post your ideas and recollections as replies to the topics 
established here.  This structure will make the file easier for 
all to read and will help avoid duplication.  It also will help 
jog your memories and stimulate creative thinking that could 
actually be put into action.

If you have friends who are retirees or who recently left the 
company, please ask them for their input as well and enter their 
contributions for them.

Members of the committee will read this file, but will not have 
time to respond individually to your suggestions. The most 
promising ideas will be discussed at regular meetings, and 
decisions regarding future action will be posted here.

Thank you for your cooperation and creativity.

    I've heard rumor that Digital has reconsidered the decision to move out
    of the Mill.   Can anyone else confirm?
    
    Jim

    I can confirm i've heard a rumor.  I cannot confirm, and do not know
    what Digital will do.
    
    regards
    dwp

    This past week the Planning Board received a notice from the Mass.
    Attourney Generals office denying the rezoning of the mill property. 
    This was article 15 on last falls special town meeting.  The Attourney
    General's office said, they denied the rezoning because in January 1995
    a law was passed concerning assisted care, elder care facilities. 
    The language in our rezoning did not meet the requirements of this new
    law.  
    
    At this time Franklin Lifecare does not have the zoning for their
    project.  Franklin must start all over and create new zone language,
    hold another public hearing, and have an article placed on the town 
    meeting.  At this time we are not sure if Franklin can do all of this
    in time to get the article on the warrant before the warrant goes to
    printing.  Which is around the first of April and only gives them about
    1 month.
    
    regards
    Paul