The building on 14 Plum Street that now houses our town’s staff is 90 years old, it was built in 1931. While it has served us well over the years, it is in need of major renovation, or its replacement. Thursday, Council authorized Town Manager Hozey to execute a contract in the amount of $41,509 for architectural services.
An RFP was released in March 2021, and proposals were accepted from four firms: Dills Architects, GMB, HBA, and VIA Design. GMB and HBA were ranked highest.
Eventually, the town concluded that HBA provides the best value at a price of $41,509.
The Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment for new construction was not included.
It was agreed to add additional funds and HBA would evaluate future office space and up to $45,000 to accommodate the addition of a wetlands delineation and Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment.
Phase 1 includes these options:
- Renovation of the current Municipal Building.
- Build-out of the third floor of the Library Building.
- New construction on Town-owned property.
- A combination of renovation and new construction.
Here are some of the things HBA will be looking into:
e factors including, but not limited to:
- Ability to accommodate staff in a manner that promotes functional cohesion.
- Ability to create multi-function space.
- Ability to serve the public.
- ADA accessibility
- Energy efficiency.
- Availability of high-speed internet access.
- Availability of water and wastewater service.
- Availability of parking for both staff and the public.
- Accessibility by other means of transportation (walking, biking, golf cart).
- Storm water management.
- Cost.
- Potential to dispose of other real property.
The only property available for new construction is a parcel adjacent to the radio tower, between the Rosenwald School.
An option that is on the table is to sell off real property to fund new construction or renovation. Councilman Follmer noted that if they are going to sell property, the town should look into selling off its most valuable asset, which at this time, is the library that is located where the Bank of America used to be. Follmer made an accurate point noting that it was foolish to buy the property in the first place and that it is not a good fit for a library–he also noted that when the town purchased the building, citizens were sold a bill of goods that the town offices would be moved there. Nothing of the sort has happened. It was agreed that the town should look into selling the library, but as part of a later evaluation. That opens a whole new can of worms–where to put the library, or taken to its logical conclusion, just get rid of it and begin to leverage the Regional Library’s online features.
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The Town Council has done a great job over the years making really poor real estate decisions. They could have bought the property where Eyre Baldwin has set up a Clam & Oyster Operation on Mason Avenue for a pittance. Remember they sold that to us as a Hotel and Tiki Bar site. They practically gave away the Old School to a friend of the then acting Town Manager. They bought the old Bank of America Building and had to spend huge amounts of taxpayer money to repair it and it is still a dump. They could have bought a 12 acre parcel for just over 100K across from the brewery but let that opportunity go because they lack vision. It would have been an excellent site for a municipal complex with a fire house, library, jail, town offices and a community center. You have to ask yourself who is the town council actually serving? How can such incompetence continue to be elected.
Note: All of this is 100% accurate, right on point. Thank you.
Agree with most of this, except for the part about the library. Having a library in walking distance is an asset many towns would love to have. In Williamsburg, every time the idea is floated about moving the library out of the historic area, patrons loudly protest and another option to update/expand the library downtown is found. Relocate the municipal offices and fire station and then sell those properties, but please leave the library alone!
What does Williamsbug have to do with The Eastern Shore? Even the poorest folks pumping shallow wells for their water and moving outhouses around the yard has a car…Many times the cars paked in the yard are worth more than the shack and land.