The project to replace the slate roof of the old library building at 7 Fairbank Street was scheduled to begin Thursday, April 14. Assistant Town Administrator Marie Sobalvarro told the Permanent Building Committee at its April 13 meeting that the project is expected to be completed by the end of June with little disruption to its current tenant, Fivesparks.
The roof and gutter system of the 135-year-old brick structure have been allowing water to leak into the building for years, deteriorating masonry and causing damage to walls, ceilings, and floors. At 2019 Annual Town Meeting, the town approved borrowing $480,000 to replace the roof, but a subsequent assessment by Gale Associates found that the damage was more extensive than first thought, so more money was needed.
At 2021 Annual Town Meeting, the town approved borrowing another $676,000 to replace the roof slates and gutters and to repair any failing masonry within the first four courses of bricks below the roofline. A Massachusetts Cultural Council Facilities grant of $200,000 brought the budget up to its current level, just over $1.356 million.
The contract was awarded to M.D.M. Engineering, a Dudley firm, in October 2021. Gale Associates will provide oversight for the duration of the project. The town also accepted M.D.M.’s bid for two add alternates—repointing two chimneys above the roofline, and repairing any failed masonry not included in the base bid. Sobalvarro said the copper and the slates for the roof have all been delivered. While the slates will be stored on-site, the copper will not, because of the risk of theft.
There are four abutters to the old library, and Sobalvarro has been keeping them informed about what to expect. She told the Press that the property lines on paper do not match up with the site, so it’s a very tight space. As a result, the contractor will use lifts instead of scaffolding so that abutters will be able to use their driveways for the duration of the project. She added, “I completely acknowledge that construction is not fun for proximate residents to deal with, and encourage them to contact me at msobalvarro@harvard-ma.gov and send me their email address for a distribution list so they’re in the know.”
