Home About Archives RSS Feed

Town Accepting Bids for Old Fire Station

Nichole Dupont

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The town began accepting proposals for the sale and reuse of the old fire station at 20 Castle St. on Dec. 22, and while the sale price of the building is up for negotiation, one thing is clear: the 1899 firehouse is going to require work — a lot of work.

The deadline for these completed and sealed proposals is Feb. 9, no later than 2 p.m., at which point the proposals will be publicly opened and perused by the Selectmen.

According to the town manager’s request for proposals, the 15,146-square foot, three-story wood and brick structure in the Downtown B business zone is in desperate need of renovation in order to make it useful.

The RFP includes a 2001 observations report conducted by Clark Engineering & Surveying PC and Mitchell Ross Associates Architects PC that outlines some of the building’s problems. Of major concern are the spalling (breaking) bricks that are literally falling off the tower, the deteriorating asphalt roof, improper ventilation and, of course, the presence of asbestos-containing materials. These materials were discovered and listed in a 1998 pre-renovation asbestos survey conducted by Eco-Genesis. Insulation, cement, floor tiles, flashing and even window glazing were found to have asbestos in them.

A final 2005 assessment of the building conducted by Huntley Associates PC reported that the “reuse and retrofit of the current firehouse structure is feasible, but will likely be very complicated and extremely cost intensive.”

The report went on to say that building a new firehouse would be more cost effective. After years of debating an appropriate location, the new firehouse at 37 State Road opened in October 2009.

Bid submission requirements include a 5 percent deposit (made payable to the town) of the proposed purchase price as well as plan descriptions and graphics “sufficient to allow the Town to evaluate the proposal.”

For more information on the town’s request for proposals for the old fire station visit www.townofgb.org and click on the RFP for Castle Street Fire Station. While no public meeting as to reuse or bid has yet been scheduled, once bid proposals are reviewed by the Selectmen, a public forum will most likely be scheduled.

Tags: Great Barrington, fire station      

Support Local News

We show up at hurricanes, budget meetings, high school games, accidents, fires and community events. We show up at celebrations and tragedies and everything in between. We show up so our readers can learn about pivotal events that affect their communities and their lives.

How important is local news to you? You can support independent, unbiased journalism and help iBerkshires grow for as a little as the cost of a cup of coffee a week.

News Headlines
Williams Seeking Town Approval for New Indoor Practice Facility
Central Berkshire School Officials OK $35M Budget
Scoil Rince Bréifne Ó Ruairc Participated in North American Open Championships
Pittsfield Police Participating in US 20 Speed Enforcement Project
MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC
Dalton ADA Committee Explores Expanding
Milne Public Library Trustees Announce New Library Director
Clark Art Presents Free Thematic Tour on Music in Art
BCC, Mill Town Partner to Support Philanthropy Through 40 Under Forty
SVMC' Wellness Connection: March 15


Categories:
Culture (10)
History (3)
Museums (1)
Nature (5)
Real Estate (4)
Shopping (6)
Archives:
Tags:
Berkshire Brother Great Buildings Closing Karen Vacation Fire Station Lee Bakery Celebrities Bird Count Survey Salt Darryl's Other New Richmond Town Clerk Pctv Clothing Year's Art Show School Contest Great Barrington Archives Mountain Birds Pittsfield Ideas Projectnorman Lenox Barrington Consignment
Popular Entries:
Town Accepting Bids for Old Fire Station
Could New Neighbors Be Wall Street Journal Heirs?
The Last of the Insects
African-American Festival Coming to the Berkshires
Christmas Bird Count Bright and Early
Norman Rockwell Archive Goes Live Online
Late-Night Host Fallon Skis Butternut
Back to the Basics: Holiday Toy Shopping Done Right
Owls for Turkeys
A Place for Us: Re-Wear Brings Style to Sheffield
Recent Entries:
Schooled in Passion: Packer's "Women of Will" at Shake & Co.
A Place for Us: Re-Wear Brings Style to Sheffield
Richmond Still Looking For Town Clerk
The Last of the Insects
Is Verizon Making Good on Its Word?
Building Collapses in Great Barrington
Could New Neighbors Be Wall Street Journal Heirs?
Mother Nature is No Match for Cheese
Construct Running Out of Emergency Funds
Winter Breakdown at Ben's in Lee