Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Stabilization of the building’s main block should begin within the next week or so.
In recent years Lexington’s own White House has been every bit as polarizing as the POTUS’s abode at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. down in Washington D.C. The Lexington version, located at 1557 Massachusetts Ave., was the subject of considerable debate in the lead up to annual Town Meeting’s approval this spring of an expenditure to stabilize the main block of the decaying Greek Revival, while the remainder of the building will be demolished. That demolition begins today, according to Pat Goddard, the town’s director of public facilities. Last week, the town received bids for the stabilization work, and officials are looking to sign a contract in the next week so that work can begin soon. Earlier this year, town boards considered a $381,000 …
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1557 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
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Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The Lexington resident and presumptive Green Party presidential candidate is looking for online input regarding her running mate, plus her Mother's Day video and reaction to President Obama support for marriage equality.
Jill Stein, the Lexington resident and prospective Green Party presidential nominee, is crowdsourcing to select a running mate in her bid to give the White House a Green makeover. Earlier this week, Stein’s campaign announced she had crossed the 50 percent threshold to winning the Green Party’s 2012 nomination and had locked up 75 percent of all delegates, with the next nearest candidate—comedienne Roseanne Barr, who’s more concerned with platforms than the presidency—14 percent. With Stein’s stronghold on presumptive nominee status, queries have turned to the topic of a Green Party veep, and her team, in turn, is looking to the interwebs for suggestions. “Many have asked about who Jill Stein will choose as her vice presidential running …
Thursday, April 12, 2012
A quick recap of articles and actions taken up during the sixth session of Lexington's annual Town Meeting, held Wednesday, April 11 at Cary Hall.
Capital projects and plans were the main business April 11 as Town Meeting appropriated funds to stabilize a portion of the White House and to improve streets and sidewalks around Estabrook School. Here's a quick recap of those and other actions during Wednesday night's sixth session of Lexington's annual Town Meeting at Cary Hall. Article 12 – Appropriate for Municipal Capital Projects and Equipment What it asked: To fund a number of capital projects, including What happened: The Estabrook off-site sidewalk and street improvements was pulled out as Town Moderator Deborah Brown recused herself from that item. All appropriations were eventually approved, after a few commenters lamented the town’s propensity to plan and a Grove Street …
42.446369
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Cary Memorial Building
1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
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232593
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42.446227
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Maria Hastings School
7 Crosby Rd, Lexington, MA
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232087
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42.46279
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William Diamond Middle School
99 Hancock St, Lexington, MA
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232113
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42.44148
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Lexington High School
251 Waltham St, Lexington, MA
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232115
/locations/6785221
42.476432
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Estabrook Elementary School
117 Grove St, Lexington, MA
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232083
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Sunday, February 5, 2012
A look back at the week that was in Lexington.
A look at plans for Lexington’s 300th Anniversary Celebration came marching in Monday morning. Shortly thereafter arrived news that authorities from Lexington and Waltham shut down the roadway and evacuated businesses after a major gas leak at the town line on Waltham-Lexington streets. High School Quiz Show shared some shots of the Lexington High team’s intellectual battle against the Lincoln-Sudbury squad, but the results of the match must remain secret until after the show airs in March. First thing Tuesday we posted an update on the town’s search for a full-time Veterans Services Agent and the VFW’s vow to monitor the process with a watchful eye. Later in the day, Raising Lexington columnist Audra Myerberg made a case for taking …
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Town Office Building
1625 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
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232594
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42.43333
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Busa Farms
52 Lowell St, Lexington, MA
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188199
/locations/6314576
42.446135
-71.223039
Lexington Police Station
1575 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
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238599
/locations/6314577
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
A capital budget request to stabilize the White House made it into the warrant for 2012’s annual Town Meeting, but the selectmen, who signed a preliminary warrant on Jan. 30, were following decisions from CPC and HCD.
The White House sounded a little like a white elephant last night during the Board of Selectmen’s discussion of capital budget items before signing a preliminary warrant for 2012’s annual Town Meeting. The selectmen stayed split on spending to stabilize the White House, a decaying Greek Revival at 1557 Massachusetts Ave., but opted to keep the option open before signing the warrant on Jan. 30. However, given their split opinions and the feelings of other entities about moving the White House, investing Community Preservation Act funds and future plans, the selectmen said it’s definitely possible the funding request gets indefinitely postponed. Speaking in favor of keeping this capital funding request on the warrant, selectmen Chairman …
42.446124
-71.222971
1557 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
/articles/white-house-makes-warrant-but-officials-still-split-poll
/locations/6285871
42.446449
-71.224282
Town Office Building
1625 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
/articles/white-house-makes-warrant-but-officials-still-split-poll
232594
/locations/6285872
42.446135
-71.223039
Lexington Police Station
1575 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
/articles/white-house-makes-warrant-but-officials-still-split-poll
238599
/locations/6285873
Sunday, December 18, 2011
A look back at the week that was in Lexington.
This week started off with strong words about the "White House" from Selectman Peter Kelley, who sounded off about spending public money on the dilapidated structure during the Board of Selectman's Dec. 12 discussion about Community Preservation Act proposals. “I never felt it was worthy of any investment other than the cost to crush it and move it,” Kelley said. “We’re just wasting good public money dressing that pig up. It’s bad news.” Four of the five selectmen declined to opine on spending $202,000 to stabilize any bit of the White House until hearing the Historic Districts Commission’s view on moving the decaying Greek Revival, or sections of it, from 1557 Massachusetts Ave. to the Leary Land. Regarding the rest of the proposed …
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Lexington's Board of Selectmen support some projects and question others as proposals shape up prior to annual Town Meeting.
Earlier this week, the Board of Selectmen was asked to offer some guidance on projects that could be put before annual Town Meeting for Community Preservation Act funding in fiscal 2013. Opinions were split this past Monday about stabilizing the White House, upgrading the Muzzey Senior Center and pushing forward with plans to upgrade the Cary Memorial Building, but the BOS was OK endorsing plans to continue with the Paint Mine barn preservation and implementing certain components of the Battle Green Master Plan. The Community Preservation Committee will consider requests at a public hearing on Monday. Dec. 19. (For more information about the projects, check out these fiscal 2013 Project Narratives.) In the meantime, here’s a quick rundown …
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Center Recreation Complex
90 Worthen Rd, Lexington, MA
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231682
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42.477671
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Paint Mine Conservation Area
97 Robinson Rd, Lexington, MA
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231768
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42.444866
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Lexington Senior Center
1475 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
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238116
/locations/6015836
42.446369
-71.22389
Cary Memorial Building
1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
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Wednesday, December 14, 2011
While their guidance on many proposed CPA projects was a little fuzzy, one thing came across crystal clear: members of the BOS believe the White House is a disgrace to Lexington Center and something needs to be done about it – soon.
Asked to weigh in on projects eligible for Community Preservation Act funding, the Board of Selectmen Monday expressed mixed feelings about several items, including plans to stabilize the White House. Before the Community Preservation Committee moves proposals forward to annual Town Meeting, the selectmen offer input on some items on the list. While the guidance given during their Dec. 12 meeting was, at times, a little fuzzy one thing came across crystal clear: members of the BOS believe the White House is a disgrace to Lexington Center and something needs to be done about it – soon. With that being said four of the five are not ready to opine on spending $202,000 to stabilize any bit of the White House until hearing the Historic …
42.446124
-71.222971
1557 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
/articles/what-to-do-with-the-white-house
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Saturday, October 29, 2011
Take our poll and let us know in the comments section below.
A little to the east of Lexington Center, at 1557 Massachusetts Ave., sits the decaying Greek Revival commonly known as “the White House.” The Hammond A. Hosmer House, as it’s also known, used to be a school administration building and town hall annex, but hasn’t been used for much of anything since mid-2009, when the Department of Public Works utilized the space as its new building was being built. Various groups and ideas have been tossed around as possible uses for the building, should it be restored. But some in town would rather see the structure razed rather than renovated and reborn as a center for seniors, community members or tourism. (Read the report to the right for more info about the building.) So, with that in mind, we want …
42.446124
-71.222971
1557 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
/articles/poll-the-white-house-an-asset-or-eyesore
/locations/5686260
Dennis O'Donnell
10:00 am on Friday, April 13, 2012
I kind of feel the same way you do Mara, but when I moved here four years ago, I knew what I was getting into. While I cringe at my tax bill, I also walk with great pride through our terrific town, knowing that the citizens care about making it a world-class place to live for themselves and their neighbors. more ›