Town Of Dedham: Upcoming DSPC Community Event To Share Your Input

Press release from the Town of Dedham:

08/23/2021 9:20 AM

On September 14, 2021, the Dedham Square Planning Committee (DSPC) is holding another virtual community event that will serve as the culmination of a series of public meetings and community outreach from the past two years. To date, the DSPC has held a total of nine public meetings with hundreds of residents and other stakeholders, including four community meetings: two with the Council on Aging at the Senior Center, one for merchants and local businesses, and one for neighbors of the property. At a public meeting in February 2021, over 170 people attended and provided constructive and vital feedback to the DSPC about the future of the building. Using this feedback, the DSPC voted in March to recommend the Select Board pursue a green space or park in place of the current building.

The land at 600 High Street was originally donated to the town for civic purposes in the 1800s. The site first housed Memorial Hall, built in the late 1800s, a monument dedicated to the forty-seven "sons of Dedham" who lost their lives fighting in the Civil War. Memorial Hall was torn down in 1962 and in 1964 the current Police Station was built in its place.

With the construction of the combined Public Safety Building underway next to Town Hall, the Planning Board and Select Board identified the importance of this Police Station property and its strategic location within the community. To develop a plan for this property, the Planning Board reconvened the DSPC in 2019 and charged them with the research and development of a plan and recommendation for the future of 600 High Street to present to the Select Board. The DSPC is made up of representatives from every neighborhood to ensure the wants, needs, concerns, and questions of each part of Dedham are heard and considered. Planning Board Vice-Chair Michael Podolski and Planning Board member Jessica Porter serve as co-Chairs.

Over the course of two years, the DSPC has studied the economic, community, and environmental impacts of three possible scenarios for this property: sell the building, rehabilitate the building for reuse, or demolish the building. During this time, DSPC wasted no time and held regular meetings, conducted research, facilitated focus groups, and connected with experts to fully understand the challenges and opportunities to both support our small businesses and create a dynamic space for all in Dedham to enjoy.

So, what comes next and how can you get involved? As the DSPC prepares to issue a final report and recommendation to the Select Board, they are seeking the help of the community to fine tune what this will include. Sign up to attend this virtual event using the link: bit.ly/WhatIsNextFor600HighStreet and participate in the development of this DSPC recommendation for the park.

It is the unrelenting goal of the DSPC to provide an opportunity for each Dedham resident to participate in this process and take pride in the outcome that will serve this community for years to come.

This press release was produced by the Town of Dedham. The views expressed here are the author’s own.