Thursday, July 6, 2000 Older Editions

Foundation: Give us land, we'll raise the money, center

By Rebecca Piro

The Andover Youth Foundation has targeted land behind West Fire Station, near Chandler and Greenwood roads, as the best place to build a youth center. Now, say members of the foundation, the next step is to convince the town to hand over the land.

"It would be an unprecedented event where the town would give land to a non-profit organization," said Selectmen Chairman Brian Major.

Opening soon? -- A youth group suggests privately building a youth center near the capped landfill the town plans to turn into playing fields.

But that could happen as soon as this fall, if the town is compelled to call a special town meeting. And if no one else steps up to the task, the foundation is prepared to gather the 200 signatures needed to call Special Town Meeting 2000.

The foundation may propose the gift of land from the town, upon which it would erect a youth center after raising the $2.5 million needed. The center may then be donated back to the town for operational responsibilities, said Major.

For now, the foundation is working with architects from Bargmann Hendrie & Archetype Inc., the same company that designed the North Andover youth center, as well as additions to Temple Emanuel of Andover and North Andover's St. Michael's Church, to draw up the plans for the center.

At an upcoming meeting , the foundation plans to sit with Andover Youth Services Director Bill Fahey and members of the town's youth to hear input from the mouths of those who will utilize the center.

"We know the kids want a recording studio in there, and we know they want a gymnasium and a game room, to name a few," said Larry Larsen, foundation founder and former selectman. "We were looking for an architect that could help us decide what we wanted, and could take ideas that the young adults have and could articulate them."

The final plans will not be completed until after the land is secured, after the special town meeting, he added. "Right now we're working on the concept," he said.

In addition, the foundation is looking into providing transportation for kids from schools. Though West Fire Station was partly chosen because it is closer to Andover High School than other sites, such as Recreational Park, there is still a need to ensure kids get safely from school to their afternoon activities.

Approximately $2.5 million needs to be raised to make the center a reality, said Larsen, and it will be raised entirely as a private venture, rather than out of taxes.

"We will seek the monies entirely on our own," he said. "The center should truly be owned by the community."

The fundraising director is Tom Jones, founder and former CEO of Epsilon, a company that for 15 years was the largest annual-giving fundraising company in the country.

Construction probably will not begin until 2001, said Bob McQuade, foundation member and former public works director. Center completion is tentatively set for sometime in 2002.