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Consultant: Elevator retrofit at Orange Town House could cost upwards of $200,000; alternatives suggested
Summary
A historic-preservation assessment reviewed by the Select Board said a code-compliant elevator and egress addition at the Town House could cost "upwards of $200,000" and recommended alternative accessible displays if full installation is prohibitive.
The Select Board reviewed a letter from historic-preservation consultant Mae Williams on Aug. 26 that said installing a modern elevator and egress stair to provide barrier-free access to the Town House could "easily cost upwards of $200,000." The letter suggested that if the town were unable to implement a full elevator — or obtain a Limited Use/Limited Application (LULA) variance — an alternative display in an accessible portion of the building would be an acceptable route to compliance.
The consultant’s assessment, provided to the board for consideration, framed the retrofit as having an adverse effect on the historic structure and flagged the likely high cost. The minutes say the full letter is available at the town office.
Board members did not record a vote on the recommendation; the minutes show the item as part of routine review and request the full letter remain on file. The assessment will inform future discussions about accessibility upgrades, budget planning and the scope of work the town might seek to fund or scope in a phased approach.
The recommendation notes the possibility of pursuing a LULA rather than a full elevator and highlights an alternative of placing displays in an already-accessible part of the building if implementation proves prohibitive. The minutes do not record a timeline or funding commitment for any follow-up work.
