News

Chester Pool renovation to cost an estimated $5.7 million

Posted September 15, 2014 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

CHESTER -- City of Chester officials got a big dose of sticker shock last week, when Burbach Aquatics released its inspection report on the Chester Municipal Pool.

The inspection, conducted July 16 and 17 for a price of $2,550, put an "opinion of probable construction cost" at a little more than $5.7 million for renovation of the facility.

The report included a list of estimated costs to restore the facility "to its original condition."

"No," said Chester Mayor Tom Page, when asked if the results surprised him. "When I was down there with the inspector, I was picking up on things that weren't good."

The report, dated Sept. 5, made available to city council members on Sept. 12 and the local media on Sept. 15, highlighted the pool's historic value, but also offered a grim view of the long-term viability of the current facility.

"A new pool vessel designed by (Burbach Aquatics Inc.) would have a 50-year design life, while any renovation project to the existing pool will likely extend the life of the pool for a maximum of 10 years at a cost of more than half of the cost of a new pool," wrote David Burbach, director of aquatic services, in the report.

The pool was closed on June 29 after major water leakage was discovered and has remained closed ever since.

Burbach recommended leak testing be performed prior to renovation to further identify the source of leakage, but also wrote that it would be difficult to eliminate all sources of leakage given the age and deterioration of the facility's piping systems.

"I haven't read the whole thing," said Chester Recreation Director Patti Carter, who is in her first year of managing the pool. "It's hard for me to comment until I've read the whole thing."

While praising the bathhouse's "immaculate attention to detail" in form construction, the report said over 25 percent of the pool floor's concrete is structurally unreliable and will need to be removed and replaced.

"At this stage of its life, BAI anticipates the entire pool vessel will begin to rapidly deteriorate," Burbach wrote regarding the main pool. "Removal and replacement of only portions of the pool vessel will force the city to perform similar repairs on the pool vessel over the next decade until the pool is eventually completely replaced.

"The cost to renovate the pool in this manner is higher than completely replacing the existing pool vessel during a single construction project."

The steel in the elevated deck between the bathhouse and the deep end is also badly corroded and in poor condition, and the building's electrical and plumbing systems need to be completely replaced and reorganized to meet modern code requirements.

"Functionally, the (bathhouse) is obsolete," Burbach wrote. "The space necessary to meet (Americans with Disabilities Act) and code spaces and fixtures can be met with the present building.

"However, reorganizing the building will be difficult as the floors are sloped to drains."

Among the estimates provided by Burbach included the addition of a 1,500 square foot wing addition (at a cost of $450,000) to the bathhouse for ADA-compliant restrooms.

A small ADA parking lot and ADA-accessible sidewalk, which would be located next to the current concession stand, is also listed among the line items at a cost of $75,000.

ADA compliance appears to be one of the major issues that needs to be addressed if the facility is to ever reopen.

Burbach said in the report that both the state and the federal government have the authority to fine the city for noncompliance.

In March, the Department of Justice increased the maximum fines for civil penalties to $75,000 for the first violation under Title III of the ADA and $150,000 for subsequent violations.

"Code obsolescence requires immediate modification prior to reopening the facility," he wrote.

Built by the Works Progress Administration from 1939 to 1941 at a cost of $50,000, the Chester Municipal Pool was state-of-the-art at the time of its construction, according to Burbach.

It opened on May 30, 1942 under the management of William Weber.

When adjusted for inflation, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the original construction cost would be equal to the buying power of $857,000 today.

"The original construction included a new cast-in-place circular main pool vessel, with an intrigue diving hopper, a small wading pool and a large, three-story cast-in-place concrete building, which housed the state of the art sand filtration, recirculation system and bathhouse functions," Burbach wrote. "The multistory building is very unique as it was constructed 100 percent of intricately-formed, cast-in-place formed concrete.

"The decorative ceiling panels, countertops and door frames are also concrete."

Burbach also wrote that the pool was not built to blueprints dated December 30, 1938. Those blueprints did not include the square deep end and instead featured a circular pool.

"The pool floor rests on 24-inch wide concrete beams, which (Burbach Aquatics Inc.) believes are part of a deep foundation system," Burbach wrote.

At Monday's Chester City Council meeting, Page briefly reflected on the situation regarding one of its oldest public recreation facilities.

"The bottom line is our swimming pool is in very dire straits," he said. "We'll be discussing this in the future."

List of estimated costs for renovation

1. Pool Vessel (bowl) - $1,141,000 2. Pool Finish - $110,000 3. Pool Enclosure (fence) - $60,000 4. Pool Covers - $0 5. Vacuum System - $0 6. Decking - $33,000 7. Deck Drain System - $43,000 8. Deck Equipment - $68,000 9. Surge Tanks & MH#1 - $175,000 10. Main Pool Piping - $340,000 11. Pool Filtration and Backwash System - $207,000 12. Recirculation Pump Assembly - $72,000 13. Pool Disinfectant System - $18,000 14. Chemical Control - $24,000 15. Pool Heater - $31,000 16. Indoor Pool Vessel (200 sq. ft.) - $40,000 17. Indoor Pool Piping System - $8,000 18. Indoor Pool Filtration Assembly - $38,000 19. Indoor Pool Pump Assembly - $28,000 20. Indoor Pool Disinfectant System - $18,000 21. Indoor Pool Chemical Control - $8,000 22. Mechanical Building - $115,000 23. Bathhouse Structure and Wing Addition - $450,000 24. Bathhouse Roof Assembly - $54,000 25. Bathhouse Doors & Windows - $69,000 26. Bathhouse Piping - $210,000 27. Potable Water Heater - $0 28. HVAC Systems - $10,000 29. Electrical System - $175,000 30. Utilities - $145,000 31. Pool Area Lighting (Security lighting) - $35,000 32. Safety Equipment - $22,000 33. Site Storm Water and Grading Adjustments - $250,000 - Parking Lot and ADA Route into Building - $75,000 34. Additional Line Items: - Demolition and Excavation - $55,000 - Asbestos Evaluation and Removal - $120,000 - Extensive Geotechnical Soil Testing - $100,000 - Contractor Mobilization, Supervision and Bonding - $207,000 - Contractor Profit and Overhead - $331,000 - Design fees, Permits, Site Survey, Etc. - $464,000 - Construction Related Services - $269,000 - Contingency Fund - $100,000

Total: $5,718,000

Article Categories
News