Following in the footsteps of Town Hall (without the prospect of a painful Town Meeting vote), the Hildreth House Improvement Committee will return its schematic design to LLB Architects for a second pass in an attempt to reduce the cost of the project.
At the March 4 Board of Selectmen meeting, HHIC members Connie Larrabee and Laura Andrews explained the objectives they plan to set for LLB, a list of areas where the Hildreth House renovation might be scaled back or phased in.
The major items identified on the list were the site work, kitchen/bathrooms/HVAC, and the addition. The original site work involved raising the ground level of the site to the level of the building, but the committee felt they had never fully explored all of the site options.
A lower cost parking solution?
One such option is leveling off the site and providing a ramp for access to the back of the building, which may be more cost-effective. Parking lot alternatives will also be explored.
Inside the building, the original plan called for a commercial-grade kitchen. The committee thought they might be able to put in sufficient venting and support for a commercial-grade kitchen, then phase in the actual equipment purchase.
The two-story addition, which was to contain a larger dining room and a multi-purpose room, would also be phased in at a later date. A small addition to accommodate the lift, required second stairway, and new main entrance would still be necessary.
Priorities: access and safety
Access and safety are the priorities, as they have always been. The committee thought that they had already come up with the most cost-effective options for the access and safety portion of the renovation, so they don’t think there’s a lot to be done with those costs. Selectwoman Lucy Wallace had faith that the committee would do everything possible to cut costs. “I think if Connie can squeeze any more money out of this, she will,” said Wallace.
The cost of revising the schematic design will be $20,000, which will come from the funds remaining in the combined Town Hall/Hildreth House schematic design fund, estimated to be about $31,000. Since Town Hall redesign is not yet complete, the Rantoul Trust will be used to make up any shortfall for the Hildreth House redesign.
