Westborough committee reviews phased community center plan, HVAC rebate and $400,000 pool fix

On Dec. 19, 2024, the Town of Westborough Municipal Building Committee received a detailed briefing on the proposed phased redevelopment of the Stein Mart building into a community center that would include a new senior center, recreation spaces and a temporary library.

The project team said the town will pursue a phased approach so immediate needs can be addressed while preserving options for later work. Christy (project lead referenced by the committee) introduced architect Joel Bargmann of BH+A and owner’s project manager Tom Gazunas of CHA, who described three design options: a minimal scheme that would create a standalone senior center, a mid-range plan that adds ramps and stairs, and an expensive scheme that includes an internal elevator and stair to connect the 1st and 2nd floors.

The committee was told the town has already advanced phase 1 design to bid-document level and that moving the library temporarily into the lower level would save the town money compared with renting external space. "We were able to save over $600,000 by using space we already own," Speaker 2 said during the meeting.

Why it matters: the project ties together multiple capital needs — pool repairs, rooftop HVAC units, elevator and accessibility upgrades — and timing decisions affect eligibility for utility rebates and the total cost presented to voters at town meeting.

Key facts and figures

- Pool repair: Project presenters and the Capital Expenditures Planning Committee recommended a pool-repair package to be funded from free cash. The team estimated the cost at about $400,000 to replace the liner, piping and equipment. - Rooftop HVAC (RTU) replacement: Presenters discussed replacing 24 rooftop HVAC units and said doing so as a renovation (not new construction) qualifies the town for a substantial utility rebate. Figures discussed during the meeting ranged from roughly $500,000 to $600,000 in rebates depending on the number of units replaced; presenters said the total cost for the units was discussed in the $600,000–$800,000 range in different estimates. - Reroofing estimate: Committee members cited an estimate of roughly $1.3 million to replace the entire roof; presenters said an alternative resurfacing/membrane replacement (similar to recent school work) could extend life without a full tear-off. - Space sizing: The temporary library area in the scheme is approximately 11,000 square feet (library staff had reported needing ~10,000 sq ft). The phase-1 senior center program was discussed as roughly 15,000 sq ft.

Debate over roof timing and risk

Several members pressed on whether the town should replace the roof now or defer it. One committee member warned that heavy construction could damage the roof and argued a full replacement be considered at the same time as interior work. Presenters responded that a full reroof adds substantially to project cost and that phased rooftop HVAC and membrane replacements can protect the town while preserving access to the Eversource rebate. In the discussion, Tom Gazunas said the rebate amounts and timing make moving on the HVAC units "a good thing to do now," and stressed that postponing could forfeit rebates that may not return to Westborough.

Operational and accessibility issues

Designers noted the building currently relies on a single 20-year-old elevator; options that relocate or reconfigure senior and recreation spaces must address vertical circulation and backup access. The architect’s preferred scheme included alternates so an elevator or stair could be added later during bidding depending on budget decisions.

Next steps

The project team said a second round of cost estimating was underway and that a refined estimate for the pool would be available the next day. The team planned to present final numbers to the select board at a special meeting on Jan. 8 and to provide committee members and town officials time to review the estimates before going public. Capital items such as the pool repair are expected to be presented to town meeting as free-cash capital articles.

The presentation closed with committee agreement to review the numbers in January and to coordinate possible joint meetings with the select board before any article is filed for town meeting.