Natick Report

More than you really want to know about Natick, Mass.

Resources for seniors in Natick, Mass.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census data, nearly 17% of Natick residents are age 65 or older.  Natick offers many opportunities for seniors, from educational to entertainment to outdoors and community activities, including volunteer positions.

At the heart of these opportunities is the Natick Community-Senior Center located at 117 East Central St. (Rte. 135 east) and open on weekdays (facilities within the building can be rented evenings and weekends).

The Center is home to Human Services, the Council on Aging, and Veterans’ Services.

The Friends of Natick Senior Center’s mission is to raise money to support the many Council on Aging programs. Volunteers are welcome.

Natick also includes a host of senior living residences and day programs, including Anthology Senior Living, Elder-Well, Home Instead, and Whitney Place,

Natick Community and senior center

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Natick seniors would get new tax break option under this plan

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A Natick committee that for 2 years has been studying the possibility of shifting the property tax burden of seniors to others is getting closer to getting an article before Town Meeting that could then trigger a referendum on the matter to be put before all town voters.

The Select Board was pitched this week (about 1 hour and 15 minutes into its meeting) by the Senior Property Tax Exemption Study Committee to sponsor such an article. Three Board members voted “Yes “and 2 abstained on the motion.

Select Board Sue Salamoff, chair of the study committee, said the group will work with town counsel to bring a cleaned up version of its proposed home rule petition to Town Meeting (see the current summary sheet and embedded below). The study committee will debrief on the Select Board meeting on Aug. 17.  It had previously gone before the Select Board at least 2 other times.

The impetus for the proposed property tax exemption would give seniors on fixed incomes and limited options to downsize a break on property taxes in light of Natick’s assessed property values skyrocketing with no slowdown in sight. Natick has seen other communities, such as Sudbury and Wayland, take similar action.

The study committee’s current summary sheet describes its mission:

The goal of a senior property tax exemption is to have seniors pay no more than 10% of their income in real estate tax. This is the same goal that underlies the MA Circuit Breaker Credit applied for on an individual’s personal income tax return. If after applying for and receiving the maximum CB credit (currently $1,150 in 2020), a senior’s real estate tax bill still exceeds 10% of qualifying income, Natick seniors would be able to apply for a Natick credit to further reduce the gap.

The town would set aside a pool of money to cover the credits, and it would come from raising others’ taxes.

Salamoff said the committee revisited its work after the last time it met with the Board, and has found that the property value situation “has become substantially worse.” The proposal would put the exemption in place for 3 years and would require a new Town Meeting vote to extend the program.

Challenged by Board member Michael Hickey about whether the program would be feasible, committee members said it would be, based in part on what they’ve seen from other communities. Though committee member Patricia Sciarra did say it was difficult to figure out how many people would actually use such a program.

Sciarra noted that other options are already available for seniors. This includes a way to defer property taxes by taking out loans based on their home equity.

Natick lists a series of tax relief options, including the circuit breaker and work-off program, on its town website.

Despite such options, Board member Paul Joseph said “We’ve got an. affordability challenge in Natick,” and that coming up with new ways to address the situation is a Board obligation.

One big question is whether those who would have more of the tax burden shifted to them, even as Natick faces the prospect of tax overrides in coming years, will bite. Board Chair Karen Adelman-Foster, who abstained on vote, said she feels uncomfortable making such tax exceptions on an ad hoc basis rather than as part of a longer-term financial plan.

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A whirlwind tour of Natick’s highest profile chain link fences

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Natick’s finest new presumably temporary chain link fence extravaganza can be seen just past the Community-Senior Center and stretching from 119 to 131 East Central St. (Rte. 135 east). Natick is truly showing its metal these days.

east central aloof

We can debate all day whether this spectacular stretch of galvanized steel wire mesh is more or less stunning than the Natick Center display that promises to be home in the future to an enclave of pop-up shops or the now covered fencing outside the former St. Patrick’s complex, the site of a future mixed use development. You may even ask: Which is the weakest link?

But the important thing to know is that the homes fenced off and set to be leveled this coming week on East Central will pave the way for an assisted living development that prompted one online observer to quip: “We’re going to need a bigger senior center.”

The last time we recall hearing discussion of this project was at a mid-February Planning Board meeting under the agenda item dubbed “ALOOP (Assisted Living Overlay Option Plan), 119, 121, 123, 125 & 131 East Central Street.” Michael Duggan of a project developer called Anthology said the contractor hoped to start construction by this May or June. We’ve reached out to Anthology to ask if there’s a site update anywhere online that we can point you to, and will update this post if we hear back about one.

The project was earlier brought to the Planning Board in 2019 by Barberry Homes, which outlined plans for a 95,180 sq. ft. three-story building containing 86 assisted living units and 50 parking spaces. Anthology took over this project.

Update (7/26/21): Boom! down go the houses…

135 house debris

Read on for a round-up of other chained-off areas of Natick. Admittedly, none of these is too edgy…didn’t spy any barbed wire, for instance:

St. Patrick’s redevelopment

Stonegate Group recently gave an update on its project at 45 East Central St., the location of the former St. Patrick’s School, where a mixed use development is being erected.

stonegate group

The developer says its current proposal for the property consists of restaurant and retail space on the ground floor with residential units above in the main building. Four residential buildings will sit in the rear (Lincoln and Wilson Streets). The housing will include a mix of affordable and market rates.

An underground garage is part of the plan, too.

Stonegate has wrapped its fence in a handsome dark green nylon covering to give it less of a metallic look.

st pat chain

 

st pat chain

One South Main

This project, which nearly imploded earlier this year at the Planning Board stage, will consist of a bunch of 500 sq. ft. pop-up spaces, ideally for artisans.

The developer tonight (July 22) is slated to go before the Natick Design Review Board to show its latest plans for this one-story, 5,342 sq. ft. retail structure and other site improvements.

This development rises from the ashes of the devastating fire in July 2019 that ruined numerous businesses.

one south chain

 

one south chain

Cochituate rail trail

The chain link fencing that previously blocked off the Rte. 30 bridge has been moved to the side, leaving the fencing at the Rte. 9 bridge as the only obstacle standing in your way of traversing the route from Natick Center to Saxonville.

Expect this fence to be removed later this summer, though the contractor may still block access here and there as it puts down lines, erects safety screening, and makes other final touches. Keep up on Cochituate rail trail progress on the Natick town website.

Rte. 9 cochituate rail trail

Natick Center commuter rail station

Speaking of the rail trail….The Natick Center station is one of the MBTA’s busiest along the commuter rail, and it’s putting $36 million into improvements that focus on accessibility.

Work began in early 2020, and the goal is to finish the project next year. There haven’t been a ton of pesky commuters to get in the way of work during the pandemic, so it looks like it’s coming along well.

Construction is currently in Phase 3, which includes replacement of the pedestrian bridge, elevators and stairs from street level to the station, and installation of elevated platforms.

natick center station fence

 

Boden Lane Bridge

The state transportation bond bill from January authorizes $3 million in spending to reconstruct and repair the Boden Lane Bridge next to the West Natick commuter rail station. The town awaits a  notice to proceed on this.

Some neighbors would love to see the bridge stay solely a pedestrian walkway, as it is now, enveloped in chain link fencing.

The bridge closed to vehicles in 2019 after a work crew damaged it.

boden street bridge

Kennedy Middle School

We can only assume there is more chain link fencing beyond the signs warding off visitors this summer while work continues on the new Kennedy Middle School, which opened in January.

kennedy middle school sign

But we are left with a good chunk of chain on Mill Street where vehicles, equipment, and for some reason shopping carts, collect. Updates (kind of) on the project.

kennedy middle school

Zeta Fencing

Zeta Fencing, which has been teaching the art of swordmanship in Natick Center for years just across the street from the One South chain link fence, doesn’t have a chain link fence of its own.

Alas, the Olympic-caliber business is moving to Ashland come September.

OK, what did we leave out….? Easy enough to add stuff. Let us know: natickreport@gmail.com

And now, a closing musical number on this theme…

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Natick MathWorks scholarship deadline approaching, along with others

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Natick students interested in pursuing a degree in mathematics, engineering, science or related program at an accredited four-year college or university are invited to apply for the MathWorks Scholarships. Two $10,000 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors who live in Natick and have strong academic records in mathematics and science.

Natick High School

Each Scholarship is structured as a four-year award, with the first year being $1,000, the second year $2,000, the third year $3,000 and the fourth year $4,000. Ongoing eligibility requirements must be met to receive the award in the second through fourth years. Students attending public, private, non-profit and parochial schools are eligible to apply. This scholarship program is open to all high school seniors living in Natick.

Applications for the Natick MathWorks Scholarships are available now or may be obtained at the Office of the Select Board in Natick Town Hall, 13 East Central Street, Natick MA 01760, by appointment only.

All applications are due to the Select Board’s Office no later than 5pm on Monday March 22, 2021. Mailed applications will also be accepted and must be postmarked by the same due date. Questions should be directed to: Gregg Cohen, Scholarship Chair, at (508) 667-6470 or gregglcohen@gmail.com

More scholarships information

Natick High School seniors should check out the lengthy list of local scholarship opportunities to see if they might be eligible for one or more. 

Whether a graduating student’s future points toward drama, the military, sports, or they can write a great essay expressing gratitude for a teacher, they could be the right candidate for a local scholarship. Most scholarship due dates are Feb. 26 or March 1. But check each application carefully—apps will not be accepted after the deadline.

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Natick adds COVID-19 vaccine clinics for town residents 75-plus

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The Town of Natick is holding COVID-19 clinics for Natick residents age 75 and older getting their first shot at the Community Senior Center on Feb. 9 and 11.

Preregistration is required and will begin at 10:00 am Thursday, February 4, 2021.

To make an appointment call 508-647-6540, Option 6 and someone will assist you. 

If necessary, please leave a voice mail message by clearly stating your name and telephone number.

Natick’s Health Department has been receiving hundreds of calls a day about COVID-19 vaccines, but the town’s supply of vaccines is limited by the state.

Natick’s Board of Health has arranged for residents of the town only to get on a list for upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics. You can sign up to be notified by email or text. Clinics to date have filled up quickly as a result of demand far exceeding supply of the vaccine.

Like other area communities, Natick is only getting about 100 doses at a time. The initial round went to first responders, and now we’re on to other eligible categories, including people age 75-plus.

Even if you are shut out of Natick clinics you can try other clinics throughout the state via the Mass.gov vaccine locator page.

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