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Consultants outline three-month assessment plan for Whitemarsh Abolition Hall
Summary
At the Sept. 8 Whitemarsh Abolition Hall Steering Committee meeting, Claire Donato of Mark Thompson Associates said the Township authorized the firm to begin a multi-month assessment, with on-site investigations and prioritized cost estimates targeted between mid‑October and late November.
At the Sept. 8 meeting of the Whitemarsh Abolition Hall Steering Committee, Claire Donato of Mark Thompson Associates reported that the Township had authorized the firm to proceed with the consulting services reviewed earlier by the committee and the Board of Supervisors. She described a preliminary three-month schedule of assessment activities and coordination with other consultants.
Donato said MBTA has met with Gilmore & Associates and will bring structural, civil and mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP) engineers on site to collect data and prepare more accurate base drawings. “We have been given authorization from the Township to proceed with the services outlined in the proposal,” she said. She added the team is seeking proposals from MEP and fire‑protection firms and will recommend selections to the Township.
The schedule Donato described calls for on‑site investigations with Gilmore’s structural and civil engineers by mid to late month, compilation of data in mid‑October, and “targeting developing prioritized cost and budget estimates” by early November. She said a formatted report would be delivered for committee review in late November or December and that regular check‑in meetings are planned during the work.
Committee members pressed for early engagement of building‑systems consultants. Edmond recommended that the MEP team be brought in “soon,” targeting early October; Donato and Craig McAnally said the Township would hold contracts while Donato’s team would oversee selection and coordination.
The committee also asked staff to involve the Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) as planning proceeds so HARB is aware of changes that would affect historic features. The committee tentatively discussed meeting again in late November or early December to review deliverables from the consultant team.
Next steps: consultant on‑site assessments, engineering proposals and a prioritized cost estimate due in the fall; committee will reconvene to review consultant deliverables and advise the Board of Supervisors as appropriate.
