Adams Town Hall's Back Parking Lot Staircase Closed
ADAMS, Mass. — The staircase behind Town Hall was closed earlier this month as a safety precaution.
The winding staircase features two gazebo-style landings and leads to the rear parking lot, which sits atop a hill overlooking Town Hall.
Town Administrator Nick Caccamo said he closed the staircase out of an abundance of caution because it seems that most of the structure is on borrowed time.
He highlighted several concerns, including multiple staircase footings that are or have been sliding off the concrete pilings, as well as significant erosion underneath the structure.
The timeline for repairs remains unclear. In the meantime, employees can walk down the driveway on the north side of the building and enter through that side.
Visitors are able to park on the street in the front of Town Hall and use the front entrance; there is also handicap parking at the side of the building, behind the bank.
Caccamo was unsure of the age of the staircase but believes that it was built during the Town Hall renovation project.
The town offices were moved to the Plunkett mansion, formerly the American Legion Post home, in 1996.
The town will need to hire an engineer to create build documents and go through the appropriate bidding process depending on the cost estimates, he said.
The hope is that the town can utilize the existing retaining wall at the bottom near the split and construct a more direct route up to the parking lot.
