(Aug. 31, 2017) The cost to return the lagoons at Berlin Falls park to a healthy standard could be more than $6.7 million, according to a study by EA Engineering, Science and Technology Inc., and the cost to rehabilitate the property’s main building could be more than $2.3 million, based on a study by Davis, Bowen & Friedel Inc.
The good news? A third study by volunteer scientist group Thriving Earth Exchange found that samples it took showed no presence of harmful pathogenic bacteria on the property.
Project Coordinator David Deutsch and Town Administrator Laura Allen discussed the results of the studies at a Town Council meeting on Monday.
Deutsch said the results of a fourth study on passive park use, by Conservation Community Consulting LLC, would be discussed during the Sept. 11 council meeting. He added the Berlin Parks Commission would be briefed on the studies on Sept. 5.
“We’ve reached a point in preparing for the development of [the] park where we’ve received a certain package of data based on studies that [the council has] authorized,” Deutsch said. “The notion tonight is to present these reports publicly, hopefully, to get some feedback from [the] mayor and council to give us some direction.”
He said the main building had not been used for more than a dozen years.
“The building is significantly deteriorated, so the question, given the range of potential uses on the property is, what’s the condition? What would it cost to rehabilitate this building?” Deutsch said.
He said Davis, Bowen & Friedel sent a structural engineer to examine the building. The engineer produced a “detailed analysis of the condition of the walls, of the roof, of the flooring.”
Deutsch said $2.3 million “gets you a building that, basically, gets repaired … but it doesn’t give you a building that’s ready for active use because there’s no mechanical, electrical, heating, plumbing systems in place.”
As a follow-up, he said the town requested an estimate on full or partial demolition of the structure.
“The ground is valuable for potential future activities, even if you decide not to retain the building,” Deutsch said. “Those prices should be coming in shortly – as soon as they come in we’ll report to you.”
Deutsch said Davis, Bowen & Friedel were also asked to provide an estimate of installing new systems inside the building, but cautioned that until the town decides on potential uses, “it’s hard to have a lot of certainly about the cost of an HVAC system or a plumbing or an electrical system.”
Allen said the EA Engineering and Thriving Earth Exchange studies were done to determine whether a microbiological hazard was present in the sediment. She said initial tests of the water, before the purchase of the property, showed E. coli was present.
“The scientists determined there was no microbiological hazard, so there’s no impetus or health and safety need to remediate the ponds. To me this is good news, because the EA report indicated if the town were to remediate all three of the ponds the price tag would be about $7 million,” Allen said.
She said EA was asked to provide a separate estimate to remediate the southern-most pond, closest to the park entrance.
“You might remember the preferred conceptual plan that the council had in place had that first pond filled in with an eye towards having an amphitheater or some sort of entertainment venue being constructed there,” Allen said. “EA’s estimate is about $2.5 million to fill in that first pond, but do it in a way that would make it possible to construct on top, so we’re not just talking about throwing in some soil.”
Allen said the reports were not recommendations, but rather part of the process of gathering information.
Mayor Gee Williams said he was pleased there was no microbiological hazard present and called the property a “truly remarkable and beautiful location.” He said initial use of the park was intended for passive use, adding, “The water is to be admired,” but not necessarily interacted with.
As for eventual development, Williams said the town was still “at the beginning of the beginning” and he planned to propose an advisory committee of both elected officials and private citizens, possibly during the next few weeks.
“Yes, it’s ambitious and I know there are some people who think … very small. This town did not get where it is by accepting what everybody else says is possible,” Williams said.
He called the park a “generational project … that will evolve with the community and the interest of the community.”
“Youngsters in our community today will be playing a role and making decisions about future uses of this park,” Williams said. “As exciting as this project, I believe, is, we’re not going to set any artificial deadlines just because we want to see something happen right away.”
Councilman Dean Burrell said he was thrilled with news of an advisory committee.
“We have preliminary numbers that can help drive these decisions of what and how that facility is going to be used, and when it’s going to be,” he said. “And I’m glad the mayor is going to take the initiative to develop this [committee] because what we want to do is in response to the people of Berlin.
“We don’t want this to be my vision or Gee’s vision or Troy’s [Purnell] vision – we want this park to be a vision of Berlin,” Burrell continued. “The more people that come and share their aspirations and just what they think will give us that much better information to make decisions that will be long lasting and we hope, for the Town of Berlin, life lasting.”
He asked for those called on to participate on the committee to put aside their own aspirations and “come with ideas and suggestions that will not necessarily benefit you as an individual, but Berlin as a whole.”
To view the studies, visit www.berlinmd.gov/6072-2.
The good news? A third study by volunteer scientist group Thriving Earth Exchange found that samples it took showed no presence of harmful pathogenic bacteria on the property.
Project Coordinator David Deutsch and Town Administrator Laura Allen discussed the results of the studies at a Town Council meeting on Monday.
Deutsch said the results of a fourth study on passive park use, by Conservation Community Consulting LLC, would be discussed during the Sept. 11 council meeting. He added the Berlin Parks Commission would be briefed on the studies on Sept. 5.
“We’ve reached a point in preparing for the development of [the] park where we’ve received a certain package of data based on studies that [the council has] authorized,” Deutsch said. “The notion tonight is to present these reports publicly, hopefully, to get some feedback from [the] mayor and council to give us some direction.”
He said the main building had not been used for more than a dozen years.
“The building is significantly deteriorated, so the question, given the range of potential uses on the property is, what’s the condition? What would it cost to rehabilitate this building?” Deutsch said.
He said Davis, Bowen & Friedel sent a structural engineer to examine the building. The engineer produced a “detailed analysis of the condition of the walls, of the roof, of the flooring.”
Deutsch said $2.3 million “gets you a building that, basically, gets repaired … but it doesn’t give you a building that’s ready for active use because there’s no mechanical, electrical, heating, plumbing systems in place.”
As a follow-up, he said the town requested an estimate on full or partial demolition of the structure.
“The ground is valuable for potential future activities, even if you decide not to retain the building,” Deutsch said. “Those prices should be coming in shortly – as soon as they come in we’ll report to you.”
Deutsch said Davis, Bowen & Friedel were also asked to provide an estimate of installing new systems inside the building, but cautioned that until the town decides on potential uses, “it’s hard to have a lot of certainly about the cost of an HVAC system or a plumbing or an electrical system.”
Allen said the EA Engineering and Thriving Earth Exchange studies were done to determine whether a microbiological hazard was present in the sediment. She said initial tests of the water, before the purchase of the property, showed E. coli was present.
“The scientists determined there was no microbiological hazard, so there’s no impetus or health and safety need to remediate the ponds. To me this is good news, because the EA report indicated if the town were to remediate all three of the ponds the price tag would be about $7 million,” Allen said.
She said EA was asked to provide a separate estimate to remediate the southern-most pond, closest to the park entrance.
“You might remember the preferred conceptual plan that the council had in place had that first pond filled in with an eye towards having an amphitheater or some sort of entertainment venue being constructed there,” Allen said. “EA’s estimate is about $2.5 million to fill in that first pond, but do it in a way that would make it possible to construct on top, so we’re not just talking about throwing in some soil.”
Allen said the reports were not recommendations, but rather part of the process of gathering information.
Mayor Gee Williams said he was pleased there was no microbiological hazard present and called the property a “truly remarkable and beautiful location.” He said initial use of the park was intended for passive use, adding, “The water is to be admired,” but not necessarily interacted with.
As for eventual development, Williams said the town was still “at the beginning of the beginning” and he planned to propose an advisory committee of both elected officials and private citizens, possibly during the next few weeks.
“Yes, it’s ambitious and I know there are some people who think … very small. This town did not get where it is by accepting what everybody else says is possible,” Williams said.
He called the park a “generational project … that will evolve with the community and the interest of the community.”
“Youngsters in our community today will be playing a role and making decisions about future uses of this park,” Williams said. “As exciting as this project, I believe, is, we’re not going to set any artificial deadlines just because we want to see something happen right away.”
Councilman Dean Burrell said he was thrilled with news of an advisory committee.
“We have preliminary numbers that can help drive these decisions of what and how that facility is going to be used, and when it’s going to be,” he said. “And I’m glad the mayor is going to take the initiative to develop this [committee] because what we want to do is in response to the people of Berlin.
“We don’t want this to be my vision or Gee’s vision or Troy’s [Purnell] vision – we want this park to be a vision of Berlin,” Burrell continued. “The more people that come and share their aspirations and just what they think will give us that much better information to make decisions that will be long lasting and we hope, for the Town of Berlin, life lasting.”
He asked for those called on to participate on the committee to put aside their own aspirations and “come with ideas and suggestions that will not necessarily benefit you as an individual, but Berlin as a whole.”
To view the studies, visit www.berlinmd.gov/6072-2.