Thursday, July 15, 1999 Older Editions

Santagati calls brief, informal talks 'preliminary' Merrimack College land considered for youth center

By Neil Fater

Selectman Larry Larsen isn't the only one talking privately about building a youth center in Andover.

It seems Jim Arnold, the Geneva Road resident who brought Hoops for Hopes to Lawrence, is also talking about bringing the hope of a youth center to Andover.

Arnold and Merrimack College officials confirm they've had preliminary discussions about bringing a youth center to Merrimack College-owned land near the YMCA.

"It is safe to say that it's being seriously explored," says Arnold.

But those involved in the discussion caution that discussions have only been "preliminary."

Merrimack College President Richard Santagati says the college has about 20 acres of land near the Andover/North Andover YMCA, about a third of which might be considered "buildable."

"We've been talking about a lot of things with a lot of different people," about how to use that college land, he says.

"Anything we do, if you take a look at our history, we always make the effort to work with the surrounding communities to make space available," says Santagati. "In that sense I suppose it's true (a youth center is being discussed), but we've had nothing but informal discussions.

"We would be willing to talk to anyone about those needs," he continued. "We want to be a good neighbor. But it truly is preliminary."

Few Andover town officials have been privy to the content of these informal discussions with Arnold. Town manager Buzz Stapczynski says the idea of having a youth center at Merrimack was Arnold's rather than the town's.

"Jim had talked to me about his idea and the town's role would need to be worked out," says Stapczynski. "He's the one who engaged me in the conversation."

Although Arnold has briefly discussed the idea with Selectman Brian Major, Major says no one has talked with the board of selectmen as a whole about the option.

"I'm not even sure that they (other selectmen) are aware of it," says Major. "Once some information gets discussed between the right people, I'm sure there's the intent (for selectmen) to have discussions."

One person Arnold has not spoken with yet is Selectman Larry Larsen.

The Townsman reported two weeks ago that Larsen and a group of residents are meeting privately and planning to build a privately-funded youth center on town-owned land. ("Private group to push for youth center," Andover Townsman, July 1, 1999.)

"It would be helpful for (Arnold) to be in touch, or I'll be in touch with him," says Larsen. "All I want is a youth center. I don't care how it happens. But it really must belong to the whole community."

Larsen says he does not know any of the specifics of the college-land proposal, but would prefer to see a youth center built on town-owned land. Two available town spaces are at Recreation Park or on land near the West Fire Station.

"My immediate reaction is I'd be very reluctant to build on anyone's land but our own," says Larsen.

While the Larsen and Arnold discussions are proceeding separately from one another currently, Stapczynski seems to hope the two groups might work together.

"It is quite separate, but doesn't need to be. That's one of the interesting things," says Stapczynski. "There's issues of commonality that should be discussed.

"There's more that joins them together than separates them," he says.

Andover Youth Services Director Bill Fahey, who led the failed 1995 effort to build a youth center at Recreation Park did not return phone calls seeking comment. Voters at 1995 Town Meeting narrowly defeated an article seeking a youth center at that time.