Quincy city councilors pitched on future home of Quincy College, city hall

QUINCY —  City councilors are considering a $23 million first step toward a new building, likely costing more than $100 million, that would house a new city hall and a permanent home for Quincy College. 

During a Monday night meeting, Quincy College and city officials pitched the council on a plan that would involve taking two pieces of land in Quincy Center and relocating the city's offices and Quincy College into a new building on Hancock Adams Common.

The new college and city hall would replace the Munroe Building at 1227-1259 Hancock St. adjacent to the common. An initial concept of the plan, showed during the finance committee meeting, depicted a 16-story tall building with separate entrances for the college and city offices. 

The college currently rents much of its space across the street at Presidents Place. 

"A permanent home will end decades of nomadic status, wondering where the college will go next," said Richard DeCristofaro, the former superintendent of the city's public school system who took over as the college's president last year. "It's never had its own home."

DeCristofaro said the college's rent eats up incoming tuition and a permanent location would bring stability to the two-year college. 

The city's offices are in a glass-covered 1970s era building annexed to Quincy's historic town hall, built in the 1800s.

Paul Hines, who manages Quincy's public buildings, outlined a number of issues with the building, including being out of compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, lack of ventilation and having no fire suppression system like sprinklers. 

The $23 million appropriation would use $15 million to pay for the Munroe Building and a parking lot at 1177 Hancock St., which both have the same owner. About $6 million would be used to relocate tenants in the Munroe Building, which includes offices on the second floor and retail and restaurants on the first floor,  such as coffee shop Gunther Tooties. The remaining $2 million would go toward design and consultant work. 

The proposed building would accommodate 205,000 square feet for the two uses, with about 145,000 square feet going to the college. The space outlined for Quincy College is about 30 percent bigger than its current footprint. The finance committee is expected to take a recommendation vote on the first step in the coming weeks. The proposal would next get a vote by the City Council. 

Quincy College is unique in that it's a municipal college. The college runs its own operating budget but is technically owned by Quincy and its employees are city employees.

City councilors asked tough questions about the college's finances and enrollment on Monday and whether the institution was worth such a deep investment, a recent open question for the council. 

"I'm not seeing this as appropriate and timely," said Ward 3 City Councilor Ian Cain. 

At-Large City Councilor Anne Mahoney asked if it makes sense for the city to run a college. 

"We're the only municipal college and that concerns me," Mahoney.

Last year the city had to pay $2.4 million to cover a gap in the college’s ability to fund health insurance benefits for its employees. The college was also dealt a major blow in 2018 when its nursing program lost accreditation, though it has returned.

Several city councilors said they see a benefit from the college for the city, but had to think hard about such a large undertaking. The building, if approved, wouldn't be finished until about the 2026-2027 school year, according to Joe Shea, a real estate consultant contracted by the city. 

Like many community colleges, Quincy's has seen a dip in students over the years, but DeCristofaro said it has been less than other area community colleges. He also said despite past deficits, he anticipates a fiscal 2022 budget surplus, though the city has outlined a plan to take on some financial obligations for the college. 

The DeCristofaro pitched a deepening of the college's connections with businesses and unions, a focus on workforce development and early college programs for the city's two high schools.

Mayor Thomas Koch has been bullish on the school. Last month in an interview with The Patriot Ledger, Koch said he thought the school had a bright future, and noted that the city would have to pick up the tab if the college folded anyway. 

"Its successes are our success and its failures are our failures," Koch said. "I think it's going to succeed, I really do." 

Chris Walker, Koch's chief of staff, said the new building would be a boon for Quincy College on Monday. 

"This isn't about saving the college it's about preserving and expanding the college," Walker said.

Original Source: https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/2021/04/27/quincy-center-see-16-story-high-quincy-college-city-hall-building/7391413002/