KINGSTON NEW SURROUNDING
Old fence removed at library to make room for one with ‘look of wrought iron’
KINGSTON, N.Y. » The old chainlink fence surrounding Kingston Library on Franklin Street has been removed to make room for a new one that will have a wrought-iron style.
The new fence will be 7 feet tall, the same height as the old one, according to Library Director Margie Menard. She said previously that it will be made of industrial-grade aluminum and will have “the look of wrought iron.”
The work on the Midtown property is being done by LCS Landscapes of Poughkeepsie and is to be completed by the end of August, Menard said.
The estimated cost of the project is $350,000 to $400,000.
“They began several weeks ago with the demolition of the old fence,” Menard said in an email. “That involved removing the deteriorating fencing that was installed in the 1950s, as well as excavating the concrete footings and curbs that were holding the old posts in place. “
The removal of the fence was not easy, Menard said.
“This was a major undertaking, since the original buried footings were about 18 inches by 36 inches,” she said. “Once the demolition was completed, the holes were backfilled, and the new project began.”
Menard said an early phase of project is to excavation and pouring foundations for some of the more significant features of the new design.
“As an alternative to just doing something cosmetic,
the library made a commitment to a construction project that constitutes a long-term improvement to the property,” she said. “Rather than just a replacement, the new project is intended to frame and highlight what is considered a historically significant building in Kingston.”
The new fence was designed
by Butler Rowland Mays Architects of Ballston Spa and will cover 800 feet around the library.
The project also includes brick work on the corners and at the front of the library grounds. That work is being done by Kingstonbased James McGowan Masonry.
“This project was ... developed to establish a
strong connection to the surrounding neighborhood and streetscape,” Menard said.
The new fence will have gates on all sides of the property, and there also will be a new entrance for vehicles on the Franklin Street side of the building to create “a safer, more intuitive traffic flow,: Menard said.
“This was a major undertaking, since the original buried footings were about 18 inches by 36 inches. Once the demolition was completed, the holes were backfilled, and the new project began.” — Kingston Library Director Margie Menard