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Hampden officials outline phased approach as updated fire‑station estimate nears $8–9 million
Summary
Architects presented updated estimates for a proposed Hampden fire station expansion, noting estimated construction costs in the $8M–$9M range and recommending phased bidding with alternates to keep the base project within budget. Board members pressed for prioritized scope, surveys, geotech, and a six‑ to seven‑month bid schedule.
Town architects and committee members updated the Select Board July 6 on the proposed fire station expansion and a plan to phase the work to manage rising construction costs.
The presentation included an estimated total construction cost in the multi‑million‑dollar range and separate line items for owner's project manager and architect fees (discussed in the meeting as roughly $120,000). The architect described the estimate methodology: "The estimated cost per square foot encompasses all those other items," and said some specific costs (e.g., site, cistern, septic) had not been fully calculated yet.
Board members expressed concern that the current estimate could exceed the appropriation by several hundred thousand dollars and explored phasing options. The architect recommended bidding core items (the new connector and four bays) as base work and offering lower‑priority items—kitchen, gym, interior finishes—as alternates. "We intend to phase the renovations and have them bid as alternates," the presenter said, noting that alternates allow the town to accept the base bid and add items as funds permit.
Timing and site requirements drew sustained attention. The team said a typical streamlined schedule to produce bid documents (surveys, geotechnical work, Title V/permitting and full site design) would take approximately six to seven months, with bids targeted for mid/late winter. Board members discussed buying some fixed equipment now to lock prices, but the architect cautioned that every dollar committed now reduces the town's flexibility at bid time.
After extended discussion about priorities and contingency planning, board members agreed to move forward with the phased approach and to authorize preliminary steps required to get documents to the bid stage. The board did not adopt a final guaranteed maximum price at the meeting; members directed the architect and committee to prioritize dispatch, bays and essential systems and to return with refined alternates and a clearer breakdown of OPM/architect fees and contingency assumptions.
