Murphy Center work nearing completion

No further structural problems have been found amid repair work at the city’s Midtown recreation center, the renovation of which is on schedule to be completed in September, according to the city engineer.

Ralph Swenson said work at the Andy Murphy III Midtown Neighborhood Center on Broadway resumed a month ago after being delayed by structural problems but that the project is back on track. The job is expected to cost $1.25 million. In June, the Common Council and Mayor Steve

Noble agreed to borrow another $550,000 for repairs and rehabilitation work at the 467 Broadway building

after Swenson told them structural damage found at the 19th-century building was worse than expected.

With the new funding, the city will pay Ganem Contracting Corp. $622,000 to install exterior gutters on the building and fix structural

damage. Ganem, based in Saratoga County, was the sole bidder for the job.

The city also will pay J&J Sass Electric of Kingston $38,000 for work at the center, including the installation of new large ceiling

fans.

Swenson said the structural damage was discovered after repair work already had started. He has said the original plan was to repair the existing builtin gutters on the building, but that had to be changed.

The renovation project at the Murphy center, named for a former city parks and recreation superintendent, began in September 2015. PCC Contracting was awarded a $508,875 contract to address exterior masonry deterioration

at the building, as well as inadequate roof drainage and structural framing deterioration in the balcony end supports in the gymnasium area.

The building dates to 1873, when it was an armory.