PORTSMOUTH — Town Council members Monday night heard an update on plans for the renovation of the town-owned Brown House on Linden Lane at Glen Farm.
Since 2000, the nonprofit Friends of the Brown House has been trying to make a go of transforming the historic farmhouse, which sits on Linden Lane between two special events fields at town-owned Glen Farm, into a community center. But while the organization has secured several small grants over the years to make piecemeal repairs, it’s struggled to attract the bigger awards due to the town’s inability to commit matching funding.
Over the past year, however, town leaders say they’ve cleared several pressing issues off their plate and are now committed to focus more attention on the project. The town has included $100,000 in this year’s budget for preliminary design work, and plans to invest more money in next year’s spending plan so it can go out to bid for renovation work.
Union Studio, an architecture and design firm hired by the town, has presented a schematic design package and feasibility report outlining the scope of the renovation work.
The main goal is to renovate the building, first built in the mid-1800s and used as a farmhouse for Leonard Brown, and use it for the town’s fledging Recreation Department as a focal point of Glen Farm.
Plans call for an office for the recreation director, office tables for various town recreational groups, meeting and conference rooms, a lounge or small cafe where visitors can sit with a cup of coffee or tea, and outside garden patio and new rear porch and new bathrooms.
Addressing questions from council members, Town Administrator Richard Rainer said he doesn’t envision a manned cafe, but a youth or sports league would have access to the kitchen to sell light refreshments such as coffee or hot dogs. “Whatever revenue would be generated through the sales of coffee … we’d get a portion of the proceeds,” Mr. Rainer said.
James Lathrop, director of finance and personnel, added that a microwave or hot dog machine would be allowed, but actual cooking would not be under current fire codes.
Council Vice President James Seveney said a “whole other discussion needs to happen” about how the town utilizes the building.
Council member Elizabeth Pedro questioned what organizations would get to use the office space in the building. “I’m not seeing a lot of diversity here and I don’t want it to become something that’s not viable,” she said.
Mr. Rainer replied that the Recreation Department is “all encompassing” and that reading clubs, youth clubs and senior activities would also be able to utilize the space by arranging something in advance through the recreation director. “It’s not envisioned to be all sports,” he said.
Making all this a reality will require a considerable amount of work. The project calls for a full renovation and stabilization of the building’s exterior and interior; new electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems; new telephone, internet and Wi-Fi; replacement of asphalt roofing, plus new aluminum gutters and downspouts; new septic and leach field system; landscaping and grading to mitigate stormwater runoff; and a new gravel parking area.
Under a preliminary project schedule, construction would begin in March 2017. It would cost anywhere from $236,100 to $283,320 to renovate the building and another $60,000 to $80,000 for site improvements, including a new septic system. That puts the total cost of the project at $296,100 to $363,320, according to Union Studio.
Council President Keith Hamilton, however, remarked that Union Studio’s estimated rehab cost of $100 to $120 per square foot seemed “light,” a sentiment that was shared by Department of Public Works Director Dave Kehew.
Elmhurst Park plans
Also Monday night, the council received an update on a plan to transform the former Elmhurst School property into a public waterfront park.
Plans submitted by the engineering firm of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) show parking for 40, a picnic area, children’s play area, basketball courts, a mix of open space, walking trails, restrooms, a garden, a pavilion for ceremonies and more.
The total cost of phase one of the project — construction of the upper parking lot and a retention area for runoff — is $265,000, with $100,000 of that coming in the way of a grant from the R.I. Department of Environmental Management.
Mr. Rainer said the project can be done in increments, “without leaving an unfinished-looking project,” as the necessary funds become available.
Jamie Pisano of VHB told the council that the design goes out for permits from various agencies in December and a bid package for the work should be ready by April 2016.
Resignations/appointments
The council accepted with regret two resignations: Michael Hiener from the Dog Park Committee, and William D. Wood from the Board of Appeal.
Jane M. Reise, of 191 Freeborn St., was unanimously appointed to the Dog Park Committee.
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