The Watertown City Council voted June 24 to approve a loan order of $5,778,000 to renovate the Parker Annex, funding masonry repairs, fire protection system upgrades, second-floor renovations, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) updates.

City staff told the council the Parker project’s total potential budget is roughly $6,000,002 when existing ARPA and other funds ($326,890) designated for the food pantry are added. Staff said the low bid for the construction work came in at about $5,000,002; when construction contingencies, owner contingency, administration, furniture and fixtures and other items are added, the total project budget reaches roughly $6,000,002. The loan request before the council covered the primary borrowing for the current phase.

City Manager and public buildings director Denise Maroney explained elements of the scope: the project will build out second-floor space for community development and planning, create basement space for the Watertown Food Pantry, add electrical improvements and take steps toward ADA compliance. Staff said the state Access Board and the city negotiated phasing of ADA work to spread some items over three years; phase 3 ADA work originally scheduled for 2028 (about $1,547,000 in earlier estimates) included upgrades for a Head Start program that the Head Start operator now plans to vacate, which could reduce later-year costs.

During the public hearing, resident Angie Canelas asked about transit access to the Parker Annex food pantry location and whether elderly residents or those without private vehicles could reach it. The City Manager replied that the new Parker Annex location is a few blocks from transit (the current site had been on a transit line), and staff will coordinate with the senior center shuttle program, human services and the food pantry team to provide access. The manager said the city could add a shuttle route or other supports if needed and noted the new location is city-owned, enabling more flexible hours than the previous church-based location.

Council members asked operational questions: when the community meeting room would be available (staff said the Second Floor meeting room is nearing completion pending carpeting), which parts of Parker remain to be funded (HVAC improvements and phased ADA work remain future items), and whether the appropriation represented the last phase of buildout (staff said it is the most significant phase but other renovations could occur later depending on tenant changes and future needs).

The council approved the loan order by roll call; the council also later approved a $104,000 transfer from planned debt to the Parker renovation account to cover the bid gap and align the total project budget with earlier borrowing plans.