Brainstorming re Historic District

BRAINSTORMING RE HISTORIC DISTRICT

Possible, Short-term, Interim

Three brainstorming sessions were held between February 25 and March 2. A total of 44 residents attended with 19 Residents’ Council members (a couple attended more than one time) and friends serving as helpers.

Some ideas were repeated in each session and by multiple small groups in each session. Those multiple responses are indicated with asterixis. It goes without saying that ideas without multiple ‘stars’ are not without merit.

A number of themes came out during the meetings:
• Social opportunities for residents to get together was predominate including meals together, time to have a coffee or ice cream, and time to have formal or informal meetings/conversations, movement activities, etc.
• Reception space after funerals or weddings or larger family gatherings
• Providing services in the historic area that are currently available only in other areas. Such services include fitness, ATM machine, and pharmacy kiosk for prescription pick up.

Some considerations for future planning included:

• Hiring architects with experience working with seniors, ADA requirements, AARP recommendations and even bad knees!
• Maintaining the historic nature and grandeur of the Refectory space.

The ground rules emphasized possible, short term, interim ideas without consideration of cost, feasibility, reasonableness, etc. We tried to keep the conversations going without debate or reminiscing about what used to be. No idea was off limit or discounted.
One idea was suggested, that regardless of any activity(ies) in the Refectory space, a dedicated walkway with 24 hour/day lighting from the Continuing Care link bridge to Building 1 be established.

I have attached the process used for your reference.

Brainstorming Ideas

Fine Dining Restaurant *********

Dining space

• Grab and go sandwich shop *****
• Breakfast service
• Coffee bar with or without snacks (maybe 24 hour/day) *****
• Ice cream parlor/service ********
• External Vendors
  • Little Store with soda fountain, cold food, coffee, ice cream, etc. *****
  • Vending machines (sandwiches, fruit, snacks, soda) ******
  • Green Grocer (fruits and fresh vegetables for purchase)
  • McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts/31 Flavors, Subway***
  • Bakery
• Dedicated special meals/occasions i.e., fried chicken dinner; pizza night; or Seafood boil **
• Reception space with external or Charlestown catering after funerals/weddings and large gatherings (family events, etc.) *****

Expansion of resident spaces:

• Archives ******
• Film Library *****
• Book Library *****
• Arts & Craft Room **
• Music Room **

Flexible partitioning in Refectory space for:

• Classrooms *******
• Meeting rooms *******
• Social Gatherings
• Lounge – Quiet Room/Meditation area **

Providing Services available in other parts of the campus:

• Fitness Annex ****
• Treasure Sale Store (Not open on Tuesday) ***
• PNC Automatic Teller Machine ****
• CVS prescription pick up area ****
• Physical Therapy space
• Yoga studio
• Men’s barber shop
• Nail salon
• Display of resident collections
• Space to sell crafts/jewelry
• Virtual Reality

Expanded/New Recreational Spaces for Residents:

Other ideas

• Use CVS space as a waiting area for patients seeing the medical specialists. Currently conversations between patient and physician can be heard by other residents waiting to be seen *****
• Postage Kiosk selling stamps, scales, some minor postage supplies**
• Store selling notions
• Routine dances/parties with juke box or DJ for Line dancing, Texas two-step, Ballroom, etc. Maybe even an annual Senior Prom **
• A bar serving liquor open from 6-9 pm **
• Cabaret space for acts/open mike night where residents can sit at tables and bring their own snacks/wine, etc. ***
• Regular Trivia games for teams of residents/guests
• A childcare facility for staff with opportunities for residents to volunteer to encourage intergenerational activities **
• Expanded dining option for staff

BRAINSTORMING PROCESS

Purpose:

Clara has asked the Residents’ Council to gather ideas for possible, short-term, interim uses of the Refectory and Historic District.

Simple Ground Rules:

• Brainstorming is:
  • An opportunity to gather ideas
  • A chance for participants to freely offer ideas
  • A chance for creativity
• Brainstorming is not:
• A time to discuss/debate the quality of the idea
• An opportunity to reminisce about what previously existed
• No idea will be thrown out

Process:

As host of the session, I will greet all residents and explain the ground rules above.

• If there are more than 10 in attendance, I will break the group into smaller groups. The ideal size of a group is 5-7 people but that can be adjusted according to the number of participants.
• Each small group would have a helper (member of the Residents’ Council or friend). The helper will ask each person in the group to come up with an idea. Do not let one person dominate the conversation and encourage everyone in the group to give ideas. Write down each idea.
• The groups will have 7 minutes to come up with as many ideas as possible.
• After I call time, the helper of each small group will ask the group which idea to present first.
• Then I will ask the helper in the 1^st group to state the #1 idea from that group. Then the 2^nd group; 3^rd, etc. It is fine for groups to mention the same idea.
• After the #1 idea is announced to everyone in attendance, the helper will ask the group to identify their #2 idea. All groups will give their ideas. This process will continue until all the groups have announced their ideas.

Other Information:

The time frame for the ideas is from now to 3-5 years in the future.

Cost to implement the idea is not part of the brainstorming activity.

Debate about feasibility is not part of the brainstorming activity

All ideas will be written down and compiled into a single document. No idea will be attributed to an individual or a group or session.

Anyone participating in the brainstorming session will receive a copy of the compiled list of ideas which will include the number of times the idea was mentioned during the brainstorming process.