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Following a public meeting this past Wednesday, the City of Boston announced that it was seeking additional feedback on the uses of a new community center at the Jackson Mann (40 Armington Street). 

The second survey came after the City of Boston presented results of the first survey at the meeting, which garnered over 100 attendees. The results showed a split in preference over whether to build a school or housing along with a community center. 

“A community center next to a new school is likely to be designed differently than a community center built next to housing,” said Deputy Chief of Operations Patricia Cafferky on Wednesday.

“Our big goal right now is to get to consensus on the uses that should go on the Jackson Man site in addition to the community center, and we want to do that together.”

Cafferky reiterated that Mayor Michelle Wu will make a final decision on the uses of the Jackson Mann by the end of the year.

According to the results from the first survey, Cafferky said that there was broad agreement that the community center should be located on 500 Cambridge Street and that it should include a pool.

She said that based on the financial feasibility study from late April, these areas of consensus narrow down the possibilities for the site to three: (1) a community center with a school, housing and parking, (2) a community center with a combination of market-rate and affordable housing along with parking, and (3) a community center with affordable housing only. 

The timeline for housing versus school would differ as well. Allston-Brighton City Councilor Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Breadon said that the process to build the school typically goes through the Massachusetts School Building Authority and could take around 10-12 years from start to finish.  

According to information in the second survey, including a school would set back the design of the community center from 2027/2028 to 2029 and may require a part of the building to remain vacant as the city goes through the process of building the school. At the same time, the search for a housing developer would be pushed from early January 2027 to late 2027 if a school was built. 

The survey will also ask community members to rate their interest in additional uses, including a community garden, artist studio, an early childhood care center, etc. 

While the new community center is being constructed, the city is looking into whether the Taft Building could be a temporary BCYF community space. The building, located on 20 Warren Street, will be vacated by 2028 when Boston Green Academy plans to move to South Boston. It contains a gym, cafeteria and 36 parking spaces.

The survey will close on September 10 with the goal of receiving 500 responses according to Cafferky. Following the second survey, there will be one more community meeting where the City will come with a proposal before they make a final decision.