Nearly $200,000 in additional funds were approved by Bradford
City Council Tuesday for work on Old City Hall’s first and fourth
floors – work that had been taken out of the original bidding
process because of a lack of funds.
Jeff Andrews of the Office of Economic and Community Development
explained the history of the project and why this work – which
includes general contracting, electrical, plumbing, heating and air
conditioning and fire alarm and sprinkler system work – is being
added now.
“We bid the (total renovation) project once. It came in at way
more than what we had,” he said. “We rearranged and took a lot of
work out for the second bid – the first and fourth floor being the
primary things we took out. We didn’t feel at that time we could
afford to do the work.
“We have, since then, procured additional funds,” Andrews said.
The city has received a Growing Greener grant in the amount of
$500,000 to cover the cost of work that wasn’t included in the
second bid.
“If we had waited (to start the renovations) until we had all
the funding in place, we likely would not have started. We elected
to take some of the work out to get started.
“We did it intentionally to get the project going,” he
explained. “We were always anticipating adding it on when the
funding was in place.”
This round of work will bring the historic building close to the
OECD’s goal, Andrews said.
“It is really good news. This will get the building really close
to totally complete,” he said. “That’s been our goal all
along.”
The work approved by City Council includes the following: Pure
Tech for electrical contract work on the first and fourth floors
for $12,909, increasing their contract from $217,631 to $230,540;
Mistick Construction for general construction on the fourth floor
for $142,885, increasing the contract from $1,747,080 to
$1,889,965; Mazza Sheet Metal Inc. for fourth floor HVAC for
$9,950, increasing the contract amount from $167,200 to $177,150;
Anderson-Shortell Inc. for fourth floor plumbing for $11,300,
increasing their contract from $183,000 to $194,300; and Allied
Fire Protection Systems Inc. for fire alarm and sprinkler contract
for $12,919, increasing their contract to $122,205 to $135,124.
“I don’t think a lot of people appreciate the size and scope of
this project,” Andrews said, explaining the massive building has
taken a lot of work to restore – and to remain true to its
historical milieu.
To put the sheer size of the building in perspective, Andrews
explained the amount of square footage available for lease is
roughly 18,000 square feet. A small, three bedroom house is roughly
1,500 square feet.
Renovations to the building are nearing completion, Andrews
said, adding, “we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Right now, there is interior wood restoration underway, as well
as electrical, HVAC and plumbing work. The general contractors are
planting grass and “starting to button up the exterior.” Drywall is
being installed, and the elevator and a second stairwell are both
in as well.
“It’s starting to come together to show what it’s going to look
like,” Andrews said. “The space is defining itself.”
