Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Center topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select Board reviews $11M-plus schematic for Bay State Commons community center
Summary
Architects presented a phased schematic design for the Bay State Commons community center, proposing a $10.45M construction basis and a Phase 1 budget estimate of roughly $11.75M (including HVAC replacement with rebates). The plan prioritizes a new senior center, accessible upgrades, a 4,000-sq-ft multipurpose black-box space and staged funding steps toward Town Meeting.
Architect Joel Bargmann and the project team presented schematic designs and a phased budget for a proposed conversion and renovation of Bay State Commons into a community center and senior center during the Oct. 8 Select Board meeting.
Bargmann said the construction basis estimate is about $10,450,000 and that a realistic Phase 1 budget — including contingency, OPM and design fees and recommended energy-efficiency work — is about $11,750,000. He also presented separable line items: an elevator estimated at about $670,000 and a stair at $330,000, noting subsurface and geotechnical work is required for an elevator pit at this site.
The proposed Phase 1 scope focuses on the first-floor senior center and associated life-safety and accessibility work (new ramps, four dedicated accessible parking spaces, sidewalk repairs and service walkways). Phase 2 would build out second-floor program spaces including a walking track, a potential black-box performance space in the unbuilt area (roughly 4,000 square feet), veterans’ office space and additional program rooms.
Bargmann said the team explored HVAC upgrades through a utility rebate program: replacing 24 rooftop units would cost between $700,000 and $800,000 and could trigger about $500,000 in rebates, producing a net cost to the town of roughly $300,000 while improving building efficiency. The team recommended staging the roof replacement separately and evaluating whether capital projects such as the pool or parking repairs could be handled through DPW or capital-planning channels to reduce general-contractor markups.
Select Board members questioned phasing, seating capacity, whether a raised stage or portable stage might be preferred and how the project could access grants or stabilization funds. Town staff said the warrant article contemplates funding some of Phase 1 through the Pulte/Del Webb stabilization account and other capital sources, and described plans to take Phase 1 to the municipal building committee for design development and value engineering if the board approves the schematic.
Next steps: community workshops to refine interiors and finishes, geotechnical and environmental testing as part of pre-bid work, value engineering, and a target of issuing bid documents in time for a spring Town Meeting funding request if the board and town meeting advance the project.
