BEVERLY, MA — Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill’s office is seeking $1.5 million in additional funding to support the restoration of the Central Fire Station.
The fire station, which has been a concern for its age and condition for several years, is undergoing a multi-phased restoration with the new funding sought to go toward a new HVAC system, electrical upgrades, a roof replacement, doors, windows and other exterior brickwork.
In a letter to the City Council, Cahill said the intention is for the work to be funded using so-called “free cash” — or annual city surpluses — but that since free cash is not certified by the state until late fall, a “loan authorization” approval is necessary to enter into an agreement with the contractor to begin work in a timely fashion.
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The $1.5 million would bring the money dedicated toward the renovation to $2.75 million, including previously allocated funds.
“As we’ve all been concerned with and have been wanting to push this project forward,” Cahill told the Council, “when we got the responses to the (request for proposal) and it was clear that it was something we should move forward with and that we needed more money to be able to sign the contract that had us coming in (during July) and having to put this in a motion.”
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A public hearing on the spending proposal will take place at an Aug. 19 meeting at 7:45 p.m.
Cahill on Monday night also sought approval to accept a $1 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Development to go toward the McPherson Teen Center. The additional $5.5 million in the project was allocated using American Rescue Plan Act funding.
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“We’re ready to go,” Cahill said, “which hopefully means construction — I don’t want to overpromise — but I think we are shooting for October (to begin work). The goal is to be in construction this fall with about a year-long construction period.”
Cahill said that when construction starts fencing will be put up around the building and parking lot. The skate park and basketball courts will remain outside of the fencing and available for use.
Cahill said the city is exploring temporary space for other teen center programs during the construction at what he described as a “nominal cost” that is “very modest and very appropriate to the need.”
(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
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