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Committee updates McKinley renovation plan; 911 center and antenna included, city to house administrative offices
Summary
Officials outlined construction steps at the vacant McKinley school: asbestos removal, tank removal, larger demolition bid due later this month, and planning for a 9‑1‑1 center that will require an antenna. City intends to place municipal offices in the renovated building to reduce rent costs.
Revere staff updated the school committee on the McKinley renovation project, describing initial site work and plans for multiuse occupancy that include an emergency 9-1-1 center.
What staff reported A staff speaker said contractors completed limited asbestos remediation and removed a former oil tank near the parking area; preliminary tests showed contamination limited to the tank itself. A larger demolition bid for the McKinley project was scheduled to come back on the 28th of the month, and staff said substantive construction would “start swinging” in late fall into winter.
911 center and antenna Part of the McKinley reuse plan will house a 9-1-1 call center, which prompted questions about the size and placement of a required communications antenna. Staff said the antenna is intended solely for emergency-response operations and state 9-1-1 requirements; they rejected proposals to use the structure for commercial cell carriers. The presenter told the committee the antenna’s size is driven by coverage needs to reach nearby communities and that state 9-1-1 grant funding will pay most of the project cost.
Planned tenants and cost savings Committee members were told the administration plans to relocate the city parking department and other municipal offices into the McKinley building’s basement and administrative areas to save on existing rental costs. Staff said using the building for multiple city and school purposes will spread the cost, reduce long-term rent expenses for city departments, and free up school space elsewhere.
Accessibility, elevators and playground space The presentation noted elevator replacements will be required; the mayor’s office has committed funding to capital planning for replacements. Staff said an interim repair of about $50,000 will keep elevators functional while a larger replacement and redesign are planned; the total elevator rebuilding was estimated in conversation at about a half‑million dollars. Staff also said that one state requirement for an early-childhood center is adequate outdoor play space; designers (Cambridge Seven) are developing detailed plans and renderings for committee review in September.
Next steps Contract amendments with the design firm (Cambridge Seven) were recently signed and staff said they will return to the committee in September with updated drawings and a more detailed construction schedule, including early-childhood classroom and playground plans.
