Date: Mon 30-Nov-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Malek-Edmond-Town-Hall

Full Text:

Preserving Edmond Town Hall Will Be Expensive, Architect Says

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Town officials got quite a shock last week when they learned it would cost an

estimated $6 million to renovate Edmond Town Hall -- and that is without

adding any more space to the already cramped building.

According to Rusty Malek of Kaestle Boos Architects, it will cost that much to

bring the facility up to snuff. The $6 million figure includes $1.5 million

just to revamp the building's electrical, mechanical and plumbing system, and

another $840,000 to bring it into compliance with current building codes.

Municipal Space Needs Committee chairman Bill Brimmer said the project needs

to be done. Edmond Town Hall is a symbol of Newtown's rich history. "It's a

tradition in Newtown -- the movies, the old bowling alley, the Mary Hawley

room...," he said.

According to Mr Malek, major renovation work to a third of the building needs

to be done at a cost of more than $1 million.

Minor renovation work to the remaining 31,000-square-feet would cost in the

neighborhood of $800,000. The cost of code updates would include the

installation of an elevator.

Additional site work could run as high as $200,000, with another $150,000 for

the abatement of hazardous materials. The remaining cost includes an estimated

$350,000 for contingency and $176,000 for "escalation" (increased costs over

time).

Edmond Town Hall has been Newtown's seat of government for the past 65 years.

It currently houses the offices of the first selectman, finance director, town

clerk, tax assessor, tax collector, social services, registrars of voters, and

Judge of Probate.

It once housed the town's post office, police department and Parks and

Recreation Department.

Mary Hawley bequeathed $200,000 to the town for the construction of the

building in the early 1920s. It is governed by the Town Hall Board of

Managers.