Transforming the old Oxford fire hall into a “teen center” could cost more than $107,250, require special village approval for the proposed change in land use and create a need for additional parking.
That’s according to a “preliminary needs assessment review” provided by the Farmington Hills-based Skanska USA Design Build Inc. to the Oxford Twp. Parks and Recreation Department.
The Jan. 17 review, prepared free of charge, provided a basic summary of what needs to be done to turn the vacant 6,000-square-foot fire hall ? located at 22 W. Burdick St. behind the township and village offices ? into a place where local youth can gather, hang out, recreate, study and help others.
The Oxford Public Fire and EMS Commission voted in November 2002 to “work toward” turning the old fire hall into a teen center, an idea proposed by Rockin’ Excellent And Determined Youth (READY), a township parks and recreation youth committee.
A list of the needed building renovations and estimated costs was provided by Skanska. It included:
n A barrier-free building entrance, including ramp, landing and guardrail system, must be installed. ($5,000)
n An additional exit door must be added to the north wall. New hardware must be added to the existing exit doors on the east wall. ($3,500?$5,000)
n Another unisex barrier-free restroom facility must be added to the existing one. A barrier-free electric water cooler is also required. ($10,000)
n The existing storm sewer system, exposed in the apparatus bay area, must be abandoned and filled prior to occupancy. ($2,500)
n The old mezzanine doesn’t meet current building codes and must be modified to a new form. ($10,000)
n The existing Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system does not meet current building codes. The existing gas-fired unit heaters throughout the apparatus bay must be removed. Ventilation and air conditioning does not exist. Skanska proposed the installation of a ducted forced air residential grade system to meet the current HVAC code requirements. ($30,000)
n Existing lighting is inadequate, “extremely energy inefficient,” and does not meet code. Recommend installation of new 2 X 4 chain hung florescent light fixtures and emergency exit lighting within the apparatus bay. ($15,000)
n Miscellaneous general demolition throughout the facility. ($5,000)
n Cosmetic improvements. ($15,000)
n Contingency fund. ($9,750)
Skanska noted that the status of the old fire hall’s roof is not included in this list.
“If miscellaneous patching is necessary, the cost should be minimal. If a replacement roof is required, the cost may be as high as $10,000 for a single ply membrane roof,” the preliminary needs assessment stated.
Oxford Fire Chief Jack LeRoy said the original 30-year-old portion of the roof (3,500 square feet) is “heavily rusted” and recommended it be “completely replaced” for “longevity.”
Skanska stated it’s preliminary cost estimates also didn’t include architect fees and general conditions/construction manager costs which could increase the overall project total by 10 to 15 percent.
With regard to the renovations, Skanska stated, “We believe that many of these items can be done through local community volunteer effort or local contractors, which may help to lower the overall project cost.”
Parks Director Ron Davis said funding the teen center renovations will require “a little bit of everything” from private fund-raising efforts to allocations from township and village coffers.
“This will have to be a true community effort,” he said, adding that the parks and rec. department “certainly can’t foot the bill” due to its budgetary constraints.
“I just wanted to get a feel for what it’s going to take dollar-wise (to establish a teen center),” Davis said, noting the estimated total is “right about” what he figured.
Davis said the village has indicated it may contribute a portion of its Community Development Block Grant funds from Oakland County to the teen center project.
However, prior to the start of any renovations, Skanska identified “significant issues” that “must be resolved” at the governmental level.
First of all, in order to change the facility’s land usage under the current RM-2 (Multi-family) Zoning District from a fire hall, a permitted special use, to a teen center, which is an “allowable use after special approval,” a public hearing must be held followed by approval from the village planning commission and village council.
However, according to village Building, Zoning and Planning Director John Elsarelli, the proposed teen center use does not meet the setback requirements for special approval.
The Zoning Ordinance states indoor recreational facilities require a minimum setback of 100 feet from any property lines abutting residential districts, Elsarelli said.
The fire hall’s current setbacks are 7.5 feet from the western property line and 10 feet from the southern line, according to Skanska’s review.
Due to the close proximity of the proposed teen center to the adjacent residential neighborhoods, “objections may be raised from residents,” Skanska stated.
The other obstacle facing the project is parking.
“The current parking lot is landlocked and cannot be expanded,” the review stated. “Parking requirements for the facility will not fit on site. An off-site solution must be agreed on or the planning commission must grant a variance for parking.”
Elsarelli noted there’s “barely adequate” parking available in the lot for vehicles associated with the township and village offices, township parks and rec. office and village police station.
The municipal parking lot also receives additional vehicles overflowing from the southwest quadrant across Hudson St., Elsarelli said.
Davis said the next step will be to hire an architect, or find one willing to donate their services, to draft plans for the teen center, which can then be brought before the village planning commission to address the above issues and “see what can be done.”