Committee hires Somerville to design JBS Barn construction documents; staff to present restroom-cost options to council

The Parks and Recreation Committee approved hiring Somerville (Somerville Architects) to prepare construction drawings and bid documents for the JBS Barn at a recommended fee of $122,700, and directed staff to prepare conceptual designs and cost estimates for potential public restrooms so the council can consider additional ARPA funding.

Staff said the barn — without restrooms — will be about 3,500 square feet and include a food-processing room; an outside open shelter will face the splash pad. Wello (a stakeholder group) has existing grant funds to supply some food-processing equipment such as walk-in coolers, staff said. City council previously allocated $310,000 in ARPA funds for the barn’s construction; staff will now provide conceptual restroom layouts and preliminary cost estimates to inform any council decision to add restrooms to the project scope.

The city publicly solicited proposals and interviewed two firms; Somerville’s $122,700 proposal was selected over a $117,750 proposal from Grama after interviewers judged Somerville had stronger experience related to food-preparation facilities. Committee members asked whether the barn’s intended food processing would be for produce or other products; staff said the barn will support local urban-farming user groups and processing of produce grown on adjacent city property.

A motion to hire Somerville and proceed with schematic restroom concepts for council consideration carried by voice vote. Staff said, if the council declines additional ARPA funding for restrooms, the barn will be designed to fit the existing $310,000 construction budget without restrooms; if the council approves restrooms later, designs can be adjusted accordingly.