West Chester officials favor rebuilding public works facility on existing Lacey Street site; estimates near $12 million

West Chester Borough Council members and staff discussed plans to replace the borough—s aging public works building and retain the same Lacey Street site, saying reusing the lot could save time and money compared with acquiring new land.

The conversation focused on why the building needs replacement now and next steps to design and pay for a new facility. Don Edwards, a staff member who led the presentation, and other staff said the existing structure is deteriorating and would require major, expensive repairs such as replacing HVAC and roofing systems.

Council members pressed for details on alternatives and costs. Council member Brian Travis asked whether the problems were primarily space-related or structural; Edwards said the issue is the condition of the buildings. "The roof, the HVACit's all in a condition where we're going to start paying big money for replacing," Edwards said. Council member Pat McCoy asked whether there was any room at the borough—s wastewater facilities for the operation; staff answered no but said Snyder Avenue could be an option if council opted to relocate.

Staff said retaining the existing Lacey Street site has advantages: reusing underground plumbing and other subsurface features could limit excavation on a parcel that the borough has previously identified as containing contamination and therefore restricted from residential reuse. "Our covenant currently only allows us to go to 24 inches below grade," a staff member noted when the John O' Green park grant was discussed; in the public works discussion staff said they would try to minimize subsurface disturbance and reuse existing connections where possible.

Council member McCoy asked about budgets and historical estimates. Staff referenced prior work and an earlier design that resulted in a roughly $12,000,000 cost after design; Edwards said that figure "is probably in the ballpark." Staff recommended moving to design and funding planning next budget cycle, with design costs considered for the 2026 budget.

Participants also discussed project logistics if council keeps the site. Temporary facilities would be needed during construction; staff suggested trailers or temporary spaces at Snyder Avenue or other borough-owned property, noting details would be determined during design and procurement. Edwards said the project team would try to limit excavation because of contamination and work with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) if soil removal were required.

Timeline and next steps: staff said they would solicit proposals from architects when appropriate and that more meaningful information would be available after proposals and preliminary funding discussions. "Between now and when we start putting the budget together, we'll come up with the appropriate time to get proposals from architects," Edwards said, adding that staff anticipated having illustrative proposals and funding options by late summer as the borough prepared its fiscal 2026 capital plan.

Why it matters: Council members repeatedly said costs have risen over time and urged momentum. The mayor said a new building would protect equipment and improve employee working conditions, and urged the borough to prioritize the project in upcoming capital planning. Staff also said they would research comparable small-footprint public works facilities in nearby municipalities for design ideas.

What was not decided: Council did not adopt any ordinance, appropriation, or formal funding plan during the meeting. Staff characterized the discussion as conceptual and said no formal action was required at this time beyond preparing for future budget and design steps.