In an effort to consolidate existing programs into a centralized area for the children and families who benefit from its services, McLean Hospital is proposing a Child and Adolescent Campus in Zone 4 of the McLean district.
According to Michael Macht-Greenberg, chief operating officer at McLean Hospital, the psychiatric hospital on Mill Street already provides education and treatment services for adolescents and their families, but this project aims to unify those offerings in a single on-campus location.
“While kids programs are delighted to have the space they have in the different locations, they’re not spaces designed for kids in the first place,” said Macht-Greenberg. “This campus was created to suit the needs of children and families.”
The new campus will involve the construction of two new buildings, the Arlington School, a college preparatory school, and Pathways Academy, a therapeutic school for students 6 to 22 years old on the autism spectrum. Macht-Greenberg clarified that both schools are already operational; this project would simply relocate them to Zone 4.
“This is a self-contained environment,” he said, in describing the campus set-up. “The landscape around and in between the buildings is designed for kids.”
It would include a soccer field, basketball court, lawn, and a reflecting pool.
Macht-Greenberg emphasized the importance of the timing of this project, noting the mental health needs of young people have skyrocketed since the pandemic.
“Demand has grown,” he said. “The need is up, but the availability of services is not where it needs to be.”
The proposal, presented to the Select Board Friday morning, follows recent progress on the Zone 3 development plans for up to 150 residential units. Town Meeting approved the revised Traffic Management and Mitigation Agreement, a key element to allowing further progress on the development of that zone, which has been considered since 1999.
“I’m delighted a concrete proposal for Zone 4 is finally coming forward,” said Select Board Chair Roy Epstein.
In his presentation to the Select Board, Macht-Greenberghe said the project is “philanthropically funded,” with a budget in excess of $100 million.
“We’re in the midst of raising the last portion of that capital,” he said. “But we are well on our way and we have every intention to begin partnering and planning with you now.”
Attorney Steve Kidder, who represents the hospital, said the goal is to present the design and site plan application this fall.
Select Board members had a few questions for Macht-Greenberg about population numbers—and traffic impact—and about McLean’s willingness to partner with Belmont schools. Macht-Greenberg noted that the hospital provides staff education to schools across Massachusetts, including Belmont, about enhancing educational settings to meet the mental health needs of children.
“We have been providing consultation to the Belmont public schools for the past 10 years, and we do that free of charge,” he said. “I’d be very open to hearing what else the district might be interested in talking about.”
As for population numbers, Macht-Greenberg said there would be about 200 students and support staff, though 88 of those individuals would be residential and therefore not commuting on a daily basis.