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Bristol Maritime Center costs rise, project delayed

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With the boating season fast approaching, the town of Bristol is moving ahead with construction on a Maritime Center in the former armory building on Thames Street. But structural issues have pushed the completion date to the end of summer and have increased the expected cost.

An artist's rendering shows the inside of the proposed Maritime Center, tpo be built at the site of the former armory.

An artist’s rendering shows the inside of the proposed Maritime Center, tpo be built at the site of the former armory.

A large crack has formed in the façade of the armory, caused by freezing and thawing. While there is money in the budget to correct that issue, the fire marshall’s classification of the armory as “a place of assembly” necessitates a sprinkler system that could drive the cost up as much as $200,000, an expense not included in the budget. That would push the project cost close to $2 million. Taxpayers in Bristol will foot most of the bill, minus the $861,000 federal Fish & Wildlife Service grant the town received for the project. With bond interest to pay Bristol’s share, the cost will run well over $3 million.

Despite the rising cost, Town Council Chairman Nathan Calouro expressed his support for the Maritime Center as a re-purposing of the historic armory, something that can affect the surrounding structures.

“Yes it’s expensive. Yes this building is ours and these things need to be done. But they allow us to do more than just this building,” Mr. Calouro said, noting the Maritime Center will compliment the proposed expansion of the dock and mooring space behind the Robin Rug building on Thames Street.

“Slips bring revenues. Slips bring enjoyment. It brings people to Bristol,” Mr. Calouro said. “This is a conduit for more good things to happen.”

During planning discussions, Rick Hall of Keough Construction Management, the firm hired as the project manager, originally targeting July 4 as an approximate completion date. But permitting, building classification and the discovery of cracks in the exterior wall pushed construction back. The town must also await word from the state Historic Commission that the design doesn’t alter the historic characteristic of the armory.

With the final approval expected this week, the project can move from its current “selective demolition” stage to full construction mode.

“We’re definitely pushing to be finished sometime during the summer,” Mr. Hall said. There are “a couple of structural issues that are not beyond the realm to correct.”

When it’s complete, the Maritime Center will house the harbormaster’s office, men’s, women’s and family bathroom facilities, an open lounge area, laundry with washers and dryers, and vending machines.

“Anything to support people coming in off of their boats from moorings or slips,” Mr. Hall said.

Councilman Halsey Herreshoff, a seasoned sailor, questioned some of the plan features such as the spatial layout of the bathroom facilities and the capacity of the showers.

“These showers are not utilized or utilized all at the same time,” he said of the nature of boat crews disembarking at once.

Mr. Hall assured the councilman that those factors would be considered in the final design.

Upon historic commission approval, full construction is expected to get underway within the next two weeks.

Built in 1896, the stone building adjacent to the Rockwell docks was used by the Bristol Naval Reserve Torpedo company of the Rhode Island Militia. One of its significant historical features is a large drill hall.

In reviewing the plans, Mr. Hall said, the state historic commission “wanted to be sure we maintained the openness of the drill hall.”

The plans also include preserving all the historic characteristics including wainscoating in the front of the building, and exposed trusses in the drill hall.


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