The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
City to consider options to fund new $4M rec complex
MIDDLETOWN — Members of the Common Council are considering options on how to fund the new $4 million Middletown Recreation Center, which will occupy the unrazed portion of the old middle school.
The gymnasium, auxiliary gym, pool, and office area at the former 42,000-square-foot Woodrow Wilson Middle School are being repurposed for the project.
The comprehensive energy plan at the facility, which was replaced this month by the new energy-efficient Beman Elementary School, was presented to the Common Council members last week.
For the past six years, the recreation office has been at the senior center on Durant Terrace. Before that, it was at Riverview Center on Main Street.
The project was initiated a few years ago when the new middle school plans were developed, according to Public Works Deputy Director Chris Holden. The initial budget did not include a number of issues that
needed to be addressed, he told council members last week.
Landmark Architects developed specifications for the project.
Members of the Middletown
Clean Energy Task Force, who had experience with the Water & Sewer Department solar rooftop array installation, helped brainstorm ways to make the building as sustainable as possible, Holden added.
“I thought we’d have a few more years left in the life of the roof, but during recent
investigations with the building department, it was determined that was one of the critical items that we needed to do first,” he told council members.
He estimates it will cost between $600,000 and $700,000 to replace the roof, which is above the original budget, Holden said. “We had to come up with creative ways to be able to include that in part of our project.”
Landmark conducted a feasibility study “to determine the highest and best use of the remaining” sections of Woodrow Wilson, President Paul Pizzo told councilors. It determined a complete renovation would cost $8.5 million spread over
three phases and several years, he said.
Phase 1 was approved for $1.5 million as part of the $55 million 21st Century Bond package, Pizzo said, adding that any further funding would require additional capital expenditures.
Council Majority Leader Gene Nocera said Wednesday the project is estimated to cost $4 million if not done in increments. “The city is exploring a more comprehensive plan than to try to do it over a three-year period.”
If the work was done in phases, he said, there would be additional costs in the future. “We’re still debating the financially wise thing to
do,” he added.
The solar array, which would resemble the one at Beman, would achieve a net-zero carbon impact, Nocera said.
Nocera said there are several options: Take additional monies out of the infrastructure bond to replace the roof, leasing the solar equipment, use American Rescue Act monies or a combination of the three, he said. “It doesn’t seem to be economically sound to do it piecework.”
The pool has not been able to be “robustly” used by the Middletown High School swim team for some time due to the construction, Nocera said. It was formerly
used twice a week, and is also utilized by the Vet’s Swim Team and other groups.
“They are fed up with continued delays. We will get this online. Time is ticking. It has to be done. It will bring us into the 21st century. Why would we go backward?” the councilman said.
The pool is in good shape, he added. Officials hope to get it up and running by February or March.
The council will consider the plan at its October meeting.