Williamstown Youth Center Delays ConstructionBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
05:39PM / Tuesday, July 12, 2011 | |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Building a new youth center on the elementary school land has been delayed until the spring.
According to Youth Center Executive Director David Rempell, the delay was not caused by one specific issue but rather a move to give the center more time to "make sure it's done right."
"It doesn't matter when we move into this building. I just want it to be done correctly," Rempell said on Tuesday. "As time when on we were getting more and more knowledgeable as to where we were and how long things are taking."
The architects, Vermont-based Black River Design, are in the process of creating a construction document that is expected at the end of the month or early next month and then the project will need to go out to bid.
An October groundbreaking left little room to maneuver in case of hitches, Rempell said. The delay also gives the architects more time to limit the amount of change orders that add to the cost.
"Six weeks is not much time to respond thoughtfully," Rempell said. "We'd rather not have the architects not rush."
If the bid returns too high or too low, the center's Board of Directors will then have time to adjust the plans or raise more money, Rempell said. A building permit also needs to be issued before construction can begin and the delay takes pressure off.
This is the second delay in construction. The center initially planned to break ground in June but was delayed when residents and public officials raised concern about the building's layout.
Center officials said they hoped to begin construction in June to avoid building while school was in session and this most recently delay allows that to happen. However, Rempell said that did not play a big factor into the decision.
"Whenever it happens it is going to be done in a safe manner," Rempell said. "By waiting until the Spring, we do a good chuck of the construction during the summer. It turns out to be a plus."
Additionally, the bids are still expected to go out in the fall and Youth Center officials hope to entice more contractors by allowing them to plan for the project and "lock in" the materials.
The construction is supported by a fundraising campaign that as of July 1 raised about $3.8 million, Rempell said. Though the schematic and design phases of the project the estimates have come in higher than anticipated but the architects have altered the plans to keep in budget.
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