Reynolds School renovation plans get community-driven design tweaks; parking and generator remain sticking points
Summary
Design updates to Reynolds School — more brick trim, revised fence with grates, added palms and skylights — were welcomed by neighbors, but board members raised concerns about parking counts and whether to include a noisy generator; staff will return cost comparisons and proceed with design development.
Facilities staff presented revised Reynolds School renderings based on a Nov. 5 community meeting, reporting that neighbors favored more brick trim, a fence design with grates to reflect a Key West aesthetic, additional landscaping and dormers/skylights for interior light.
The presenter said the changes were "very well received" but flagged parking as the dominant concern. Staff noted the property’s plan to remain self‑contained for parking but acknowledged limited on‑site spaces and the potential for vehicle overflow into nearby residential streets.
Generator placement and noise were the most contested items. The presenter said weekly testing makes generators noisy and that, because the new building would sit only about one foot above the flood elevation where the existing school stands, the site is not well suited to be hardened as a shelter. "So it's our desire...to proceed without including a generator on this particular property for all the reasons stated—mostly parking and the noise," the facilities representative said.
Board members suggested alternative technical solutions — including newer inverters or siting equipment closer to the building — and asked staff to prepare cost comparisons and alternate options, including design alternates that could be prioritized if budget constraints require tradeoffs. One board member pressed for a comprehensive review of three related projects (Reynolds, Bruce Hall and an administration building) before approving large expenditures.
Staff told the board schematic design is complete, design development documents are expected at the board's next meeting in December, construction documents in January and that an RFQ for a construction manager is underway with selection anticipated in December. If schedules hold, bidding would occur in spring with construction after permits are secured.
The board asked staff to return with cost estimates for the community‑requested aesthetic changes and to consider alternative, lower‑noise power solutions before finalizing the design.
