Booker T. renovation could cost over $500K
The estimated price tag on the Booker T. Washington building renovation project could top $500,000, the Philadelphia Mayor and Board of Aldermen learned during their Sept. 21 meeting.
Darion Warren, project manager with Waggoner Engineering, told the board the estimated cost would be $475,142.
That price would include the removal and replacement of the existing roof, replacing existing insulation with vinyl back insulation, repairs to the gym floor and any structural steel repairs that might be needed.
There will be new restrooms and a new entrance lobby in what is now the back of the building. The estimated cost also includes mobilization costs and bonds for the contractor.
Warren said the price reflects the current cost of building materials.
That number could also go down some, Mayor James A. Young said, should the city receive funding from a Community Development Block Grant and a grant from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
The city is seeking $25,000 from the CDGB grant for handicapped accessibility and rest rooms. The city doesn’t know how much they could receive from the MDAH.
Before receiving the estimate, city leaders believed the project would cost approximately $350,000. The city plans to pay for the work with money from a $1.2 million bond issue that was passed last year along with any grant monies they receive.
“Back in February, the board authorized Waggoner to proceed with the design services to renovate the (Booker T. Washington) gymnasium,” Warren said during his presentation. “This included removal and replacing the roof, as well as the current vacant support structure adjacent to the gym to bring it online to be useable along with other areas in the facility. Also, this is to make repairs to the existing gym floor.”
The Booker T. Washington gym has a historical marker designation which means the Department of Archives and History must review and approve any renovations of the building.
“We provided them with preliminary plans in July,” Warren said. “We received a response from them in August with their comments and their approval to proceed with the final design phase.
“We proceeded with the final design and incorporated their comments. The next step will be to submit those plans to them to make sure they have no further comments and get their final approval. Once that takes place, we will be ready to proceed with the bidding process if the city sees fit to do so.”
Originally, officials thought a totally new gym floor would be installed. The state archives nixed that idea, requiring that the original floor be repaired, not replaced.
As the city moves toward the bidding and possible construction phase of the project, Warren asked aldermen to amend Waggoner’s contract for an additional $13,865 for bidding phase services and $27,730 construction phase oversight. The amended total would be $41,595. This was added to the original $55,453 contract cost, Warren said.
Afterwards, Warren came before the board seeking permission to put the project out for bids, once the archives department gave its final approval.
Aldermen voted 5-0 to approve the amendments to the contract, and to give Waggoner the go-head to start the bidding process when they hear back from the state archives.
“I hope we get some good feedback from the archives and the CDBG grant,” said alderman Ward 2 Jim Fulton. “This is pre-stages, just getting everything ready.”
Warren also updated the board on two ongoing projects at the Philadelphia Airport. The equipment has been purchased for a new Weather Operations Systems system. Warren said it could not be installed until the airport receives a new license from the Federal Communications Commission. That application is pending.
Also, there are still problems with a section of the new tarmac. Warren said an area that had a sinking problem had been replaced. However, it has started sinking again. Warren reported current talks with the contractor have not been encouraging and advised that city attorney Robert Thomas may have to get involved.