Cost Of Senior Center Renovation Sees An Increase

BRANFORD, CT — Earlier this month, Branford’s Board of Finance heard updated plans for renovating the Branford Community House Senior Center.

Thomas Arcari, a representative of Quisenberry Arcari of Farmington, the architecture firm hired for the project, answered budget questions at the meeting. The firm now projects the cost of renovating the senior center and community house project at $12.24 million, an increase over the original proposed budget of between $8 and $10 million, according to reports.

One reason for the increase was the discovery of soil contamination, which may be linked to the site of a nearby former factory. The cost also increased due to the proposed purchase of more property for additional parking. At a price tag of $300,000, the addition will provide 29 new parking spaces for the Church Street center.

Additionally, measures will be taken to make the center flood resistant, reported an article in the meeting by the Branford Eagle.

Arcari said construction could be scheduled for the spring of 2017 once the project receives the necessary approvals. The project could take between 10 and 15 months to complete, with an opening date in 2018. The proposed spring start date is six months later than the date originally proposed.

According to an article in the Branford Seven, the renovation almost doubles the size of the current facility. The sale of Canoe Brook, the current home of the senior center, is expected to net an estimated $515,000 to offset the costs.

You can read the Branford Eagle article here and the Branford Seven article here.

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