Hamilton Community Center

Hamilton Community Center renovations continue. Thanks to a $500,000 grant I was successful in securing with Senator Creem's support, from a Capital Bond Bill initiated by Governor Patrick in 2008, Phase I of the project was completed in August 2010. This first phase included the replacement of the entire roof membrane adding five sun tunnels to add natural light to the interior hall and baths of the Community Center. Phase II, the replacement of the original (60 year old) boilers/ heating plant with a high efficiency HVAC system was completed in the Fall of 2010. Phase III of the project, using $179,000 from the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Green Communities (GC) Grant and approximately $100,000 of city funds from utility company rebates, the single pane storefront windows will be replaced in the classrooms, the kitchen, office and the gym. Wall insulation systems will replace the metal panels and several bare masonry bearing walls and repairs will be made to concrete on sections of exposed foundation wall. Between design review, advertising and bids, we now anticipate Phase III starting in early 2012. We all know the community center is a central resource for so many programs and activities, and we hope to have this finalized as soon as possible. I want to thank Mayor Setti Warren for his support, Alderman Deborah Crossley, architect, and Jonathan Kantar, design/builder, who helped manage the project, Alderman Sangiolo who attended many of the early meetings, the city's Building and Recreation Departments, all of whom helped in designing an energy efficient building in the city to be used as a model green building for future projects in the city.