What will happen to the old Wescott Junior High once it has seen its last student exit its doors?
Members of a committee charged with looking at the reuse of the aging building – which will close in 2010 when a new middle school opens – met Tuesday to discuss the possibilities for the future, which include everything from renovating and expanding the building to demolishing it and selling the land.
The committee was formed following the May 22 referendum that overwhelming approved construction of a new middle school and auditorium on Stroudwater Street. The school and auditorium project will cost $33 million. The state is funding $26 million for the school portion of the bill.
Still in the preliminary stages, the committee members present on Tuesday – Mayor Bruce Chuluda, City Administrator Jerre Bryant, Superintendent Stan Sawyer, Committee Chairman Jim Violette, Al Juniewicz and Judith Reidman – made no decisions nor recommendations as to what sort of use for Wescott will be pursued. They did receive some sketch plans and numbers on estimated costs of renovations from Harriman Associates, the engineering and architecture firm that has been working with the city and school department on the middle-school project.
Most of the ideas, save for demolition or outright sale of the building, include leasing some space to nonprofits to recoup costs of renovations. Programs for seniors are also on the table to utilize the space, as well as recreation programs, including expanded pool space and a hockey rink. There is also an idea for consolidating school and city offices in the building, which could lead to the sale of City Hall to offset renovation costs.
Estimates for the ideas brought forth so far begin at $600,000 for removal of part of the building. Total demolition would cost $850,000. The lowest estimate to renovate the building is $5 million, which would replace the roof and make minor renovations and mechanical upgrades. A more complete renovation to include full replacement of mechanical systems could cost $11 million-$12 million.
A full renovation with expansion to include upgrading the existing pool and adding a hockey rink and a 50-meter pool could cost up to $28 million.
Members of the committee have no plans to send taxpayers the bill for these projects, and over the next year will be exploring various avenues of funding.
While the numbers on the larger renovation ideas seem strikingly similar to the cost of the middle school approved by voters in May, renovations of the Wescott building to meet the needs of the school department could not be done for the same price, Sawyer said. The state would fund a new building, but not a rehabilitation of the old building because of the difference in cost.
The full committee is expected to meet at Wescott Junior High the second week of September, but an official date has not been set.
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