Council Wants to Find Best Use for Army Reserve Center

City Councilors have indicated they would like to use the Paul A. Doble Army Reserve Center on Cottage Street for a new multi-use recreation field when the Army Reserve moves into its new facility on Lafayette Road.

But on Tuesday night, councilors indicated they might favor an alternative use if the city chooses to try and acquire the property that was put on the federal Base Realignment and Closure list back in 2005.

David Moore, who serves as the city's director of community development, said the city has already drawn up a plan to transform the current 14,000 square foot facility on 121 Cottage St. into a new athletic field with bleachers and parking and a storage building. He said the city hope to acquire the 3.5-acre property from the Department of the Army and then designate it as a park by working with the National Parks Service.

City Councilor Ken Smith said the council should consider using the current Army Reserve center as a new public safety complex for the city fire and police departments as well as dispatchers.

Assistant Mayor Robert Lister reminded his colleagues the city's need for more athletic fields is great. He said the city “should put everything on the table” including a senior center and a public safety building. “But we have already identified there is a need for more fields in the city and let’s not forget that.”

City Councilor Chris Dwyer asked Moore if the city also needs to consider some new housing to address homelessness because that is a stipulation within the BRAC process. Moore told Dwyer she was correct.

City Manager John Bohenko said the council would schedule a future work session to discuss possible uses for the Paul A. Doble facility.

Earlier this month, officials with the American Legion Post Frank E. Booma Post 6 or Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 168 learned the Department of the Army would not allow them to use the Paul D. Doble facility.

is scheduled to be completed in March 2013 after the project broke ground in March 2012. Once completed, the $9.16 million facility being constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be the new home for 49 soldiers with Detachment 2, A Company, of the 399^th Combat Support Hospital and 38 soldiers with the 378^th Minimum Care Detachment.