HomeMy WebLinkAboutBond Support PresentationCity Hall Bond
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City hall was constructed
in 1889 as a fire station
Undated photo of original
construction, viewed from
East Main Street
East Main Street
Photo History of
City Hall
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Original
construction, pre-
1913
Undated photo,
viewed from
North Main
Street
Plaza
N Main St
E Main St
Photo History of
City Hall
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1889 to 1913
1913 to present
Removed adjoining building
on E Main to expand south
and east.
Large addition on plaza-facing
side to expand north. Exterior
staircase remains
Photo History of City Hall
– 1913 Remodel
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1913 remodel
Minor addition on south end (date unknown)
Second floor addition on south end (1997)
Photo History of City
Hall – 1913 Remodel
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Historic Significance
•City Hall is listed as a “Contributing Resource” on the National Register of Historic Places
•Impacts to City Hall will be regulated by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
What does this mean for the proposed demolition?
•City will need to consult with SHPO and the Historic Commission early in the design process
•These parties will develop a plan for mitigating the removal of this historic resource.
MITIGATION may include:
•Documentation •Protective covenants
•Public education •Other historic preservation work to benefit the
community
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Council
Decision
Milestones
Feasibility
Phase
February 2016: Council reviewed findings of City Hall Seismic
Evaluation (Miller Consulting Engineers), and directed staff to seek
competitive proposals to study the feasibility of 3 options for replacing
City Hall:
•Rebuilding new at the current City Hall location
•Building new at Pioneer St. Parking Lot
•Expanding Community Development Building
June 2016: Staff received 4 competitive proposals from local architects
for feasibility study. ORW Architecture was awarded the contract based
on their high qualifications and low proposed cost
January 2017: ORW’s findings are presented to Council. Council
directs staff to establish an advisory committee to recommend the best
seismic alternative
October 2017: Committee reports findings to Council. Most members
favor rebuilding a new City Hall at the current site, but no
recommendation is given.
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Council
Decision
Milestones
Concept
Design Phase
December 2017: Council directed staff to seek proposals for conceptual
designs and costs of 3 revised options for replacing City Hall:
•Rebuilding a new 4-story structure at the current City Hall location
•Building a new structure at the current location of Courts/Council
Chambers
•Retrofitting and remodeling Briscoe School
March 2018: Staff received 2 competitive proposals for architectural
services. ORW Architecture was awarded the contract.
February 2019: ORW’s conceptual designs and findings were presented to
Council. Council asked staff to return with a concept and design for a seismic
retrofit (aka renovation) that would guarantee a “100-year building”.
October 2019: The retrofit/renovation concept and cost was presented to
Council. Council supported keeping City Hall at its current site, and directed
staff to return with a comparison the retrofit/renovation vs. rebuilding a new,
2-story City Hall at the current site.
December 2019: Council was presented with a comparison of the two
option, and a recommendation to rebuild. Council approved advancing the
rebuild of a 2-story structure as the lowest cost alternative.
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Rebuild Vs. Seismic
Retrofit and
Renovation
A Summary of ORW’s Recommendation for Rebuilding a New 2-Story Building
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Rebuild vs. Retrofit & Renovate
Both options:
•Provide a safe accessible, durable building for ~100 years
•Update the building systems
•Comply with current structural codes
•Present opportunities for environmental sustainability
•Occupy a similar footprint
•Have similar costs
•Will be disruptive during construction to Plaza uses and businesses
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Where Retrofit/Renovate Falls Short
A retrofit:
•Results in a loss of space – at least 600 square feet less than rebuilding City Hall
•Has many unknowns and very high risk, which could by costly
•Has a longer construction schedule – more disruption on the plaza, greater rental costs
•Runs the risk of exterior wall decomposition, which defeats the effort of historical preservation.
•Has added costs for materials testing and shoring of existing walls
•Has higher costs for demolition, sitework and foundation prep, design fees, and contractor’s contingency
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Why Building New is Recommended:
“ORW Architecture recommends pursuing new construction
for Ashland City Hall to provide a building that is safer and
more durable, has a larger floor area, and is constructed
faster with less risk and less expense.”
-Memo from ORW Architecture titled “Ashland City Hall – New or
Renovation Considerations” 10/31/19
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Pioneer Hall
Major Problems:
•Overloaded roof under snow (and possibly wind) loads
•Overloaded floor joists and beams under a live load
•Seismic deficiencies
•Architectural code deficiencies
•Other “inhabitability” deficiencies (e.g. insufficient ventilation and lighting)
•No fire protection system
Repair costs: $325k - $404k (2018 dollars)
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Community Center
Major Problems:
•Deformations in the ceiling and walls was attributed to “a poor conglomeration of
structural members” with insufficient end support, causing the roof to deflect “excessively
and consistently”.
•Downward deflection in the ceiling in the main hall was contributing to sagging, over-
spanned rafters above the stage and dressing areas.
•Outward deflection/deformation of the northern exterior wall was specifically called out
by the consulting engineer as an “unacceptable” condition which could cause total
building collapse if deflection continues. The only permanent and reliable remedy is total
roof removal and replacement with new wood trusses.
•Deformation in the floors was attributed to settling in the crawlspace that resulted in gaps
between the floor joist and the beams upon which the joist should bear (i.e. over-spanned
joists). The remedy involves jacking up either the joists or the beams and inserting shims
or a filler to eliminate gaps.
Repair costs: $325k - $404k (2018 dollars)
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•Overloaded roof under snow (and
possibly wind) loads
•Overloaded floor joists and beams
under a live load
•Seismic deficiencies
•Architectural code deficiencies
•Other “inhabitability” deficiencies
(e.g. insufficient ventilation and
lighting)
•No fire protection system
Community Center
•Excessive and consistent roof
deflection causing:
•Outward deflection of exterior wall
•Downward deflection of ceiling in
main hall
•Over-spanned, sagging rafters
•Floor deformation caused by settling in
the crawl space and over-spanned floor
joists
Repair costs: $325k - $404k
(2018 dollars)
Repair costs: $399k - $410k
(2019 dollars)
Pioneer Hall
INTERNAL NOTE: This is the simple, one-slide summary of problems in these two buildings. The following two slides provide a more in-depth
explanation. I would recommend using only this slide, or only the following 2 slides. Not all three.
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