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02/02/2019 07:37 AMWith construction and major facility infrastructure upgrades making progress despite cold winter weather, work on Branford's Community/Senior Center expansion project is now expected to be completed by late May, 2019. At that point, the building will be turned over to the Town, to allow Branford Parks and Recreation and Branford Senior Center to begin the move-in process.
Project contractor A. Secondino and Son (Branford) began work on the $12.1 million project in October 2017. Even as demolition and foundation work progressed at the 46 Church Street site, unanticipated issues began moving the completion date away from an original target of October, 2018. A major issued was uncovered when excavation revealed the need to install a new underground sewer connection to tie into the older building. That side-project also caused a delay to work on the building's lower level. Another notable issue was steel delivery delay, which pushed work on the expansion to begin in August 2018 instead of June, and also shifted the paving schedule.
On Jan. 28, 2019, Branford's Public Building Commission (PCB) received a new progress update from project architect firm Quisenberry Arcari Architects, LLC (Farmington). PCB chair Peter Banca shared with The Sound that the commission learned the project is now on track to be completed by Memorial Day, 2019; and that work is making good progress. One key element now under installation is routing in the building-wide generator system that will power the facility for use as a town emergency shelter during extreme weather events. Banca also noted passerby will see the building's new additions have been covered with temporary, insulating wrapping, which is allowing for work normally delayed by winter weather, such as pouring concrete, to continue. Other work taking place right now includes a complete upgrade and overhaul to the original gymnasium, built in 1962 as part of the former Branford Community House.
The solution to create a combined facility which upgrades the former Community House and replaces the inadequate, aging Canoe Brook Senior Center at 11 Cherry St. began in 2015. At that time, First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove began the process by organizing public workshops and hiring a consulting firm to help to determine the best path forward for the town. By 2016, Branford settled on the final concept, creating a combined Community/Senior Center by renovating and expanding the existing Branford Community House. Project bonding was approved by the Representative Town Meeting in early 2017. In the summer of 2017, ahead of breaking ground for the project, Branford Parks and Recreation relocated to temporary offices at 40 Kirkham St.
Last week, Cosgrove told The Sound that, despite some unanticipated delays early on, the project is moving along and accommodations are being made to ensure that the work continues.
"At the end of this project, I think it's going to be project that the town can be proud of," said Cosgrove. "It's something we're all anxious, as a town, to see finished. It's been discussed for a number of years; and with this year starting, I know we're all anticipating [completion]. A lot of work has been completed to date that probably is not visible from driving by and we look forward to moving in there, come this May."