News

When Options Collide
So many buildings, so little money
By Elizabeth Prata

How much to renovate half of Pennell?

In 2002 the Town of Gray began thinking about their space needs. The Town offices were becoming cramped, officials said. Based upon the inventory of Square footage of the current Town office as of August 7, 2002 the current square footage is some #2,733 sf or about #273 SF per person. Left, Pennell Institute. The historical brick portion and tower are in serious need of repair, but it's the 'newer' half, built in the 1950s, is the only part that would be renovated at first.

The standards used at that time indicated Gray Town Office should have about #3,350 SF and when future needs are built and common areas included, the range needed would be between #4,187-#5,569 SF.

Pennell would provide the town with about #2,700 SF of office space, the same as currently in Town office, but all on one floor. If adding the common space in Pennell, of #3,275 it comes to just under #6,000.

When the Post Office next door to Town office became vacant, the Town saw an opportunity to expand town offices by connecting with the nearly adjacent Post Office building. They asked the citizens to buy the building, which they authorized at Town meeting in 2002.

Not everyone was happy with the idea of expanding into the Post office, though. So in late 2002 an Ad Hoc committee was set up to delve into the issues surrounding the Town Office space needs. Committee members looked at whether the town should expand into the post office, expand on their own lot, or move to a new facility.

When the SAD began thinking about abandoning Pennell Institute, the committee incorporated the idea that Pennell could become the new town office center, and they generated a cost analysis.

Pennell Institute has two parts to it, the 'old' section and the 'new' section. The old section is original and includes a second floor and tower. The 'new' section was added on in the early 1970s and has been used as school classrooms and offices.

The cost analysis looked at what it would take to bring the 'new' section of Pennell up to speed for use as a town office. The costs reflected do NOT include any work on rehabilitating the old section. The old section has a second floor that would not be handicapped accessible, resulting in the same ADA issues that afflict Stimson hall and the Town Office now.
The Town office committee estimated costs to renovate the new section at about $1,000,000.

SOURCE: Summary of Town Office Center Committee Report

Right, Anderson Lab, a separate building that comes with the Pennell package the Town and SAD are considering renovating and sharing.