Cost to Save Cottage $50,000 plus
Forks Township Supervisors receive mold report that will double original restoration costs.
The costs to save the controversial "Cottage in the Woods" have now doubled.
The Forks Township Board of Supervisors received a report at its work session meeting last week on how much it would cost the rid the structure at 700 Zucksville Road of mold.
"We looked at the mold, lead paint and asbestos and there's your dollar amount -- $28,000, with a worst case of $32,000," Township Manager John Cornell said.
That's on top of the $23,000 township officials had already determined would give the building, which dates to the 1940s, a good scrubbing.
The original amount was to replace the roof and windows.
"The cost we're probably looking at is $50,000," Supervisors Chairman Erik Chuss said. "But it may be $60,000 or $70,000."
The supervisors are expected to vote on the fate of the structure at a Sept. 20 meeting.
Members of the Save the Cottage Committee are rallying residents to get behind saving the structure from the wrecking ball. Forks officials had estimated it would cost about $9,000 to demolish the building.
chasekratzer
6:49 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
I think they should keep it
, because they can use it for driffent things.
Rob Leiser
9:39 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
I have had my fights with different Boards of Supervisors going back 20 years. I learned they don’t mind using skewed statistics to support a predetermined decision. The long list of One Term Supervisors will attest to the fact that they ignore the wishes of the residents who elected them. In a Week Supervisors will vote to bulldoze the Cottage and 6 acres of dense woods to build a Parking lot for a Private Youth Sports Club.
This weekend the Supervisors will be walking the Grounds of “Forks Days” ask them for answers to the Questions they have been dodging. What is the total cost of the Project, clearing the property, disposing of hundreds of large Tree Stumps Thousands of cubic yards of debris just to build a parking lot for a few ball fields? What is the environmental impact of destroying the dense woodland and what is the plan to relocate the habitat within that Forrest? In Forks Township when the environment comes up against Youth Sports the Environment looses, what kind of lesson is this? There are dozens of unanswered Questions that need to be addressed about this project.
Supervisors describe the high costs of removing lead paint, and Asbestos from the Cottage. These hazardous materials will need to be removed from the cottage before demolition begins. Why haven’t the Hazardous Waste removal Costs been added to the demolition estimates?
Kent E. Quain
8:48 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
You got it Rob. The woods and cottage would be great for art and outdoor education, nature trails, arboretum, picnic grove...although not historic It may still cost less for the restoration of the cottage if haz-mat disposal costs are determined high, and would be a great home for Forks Area Arts and Outdoor Education Society. I'm sure we can get enough financial and physical support, at least to address the serious structural problems, leaks , mold, lead paint and asbestos tile encapsulated... and sure it up for winter as well as rewire and start on the cosmetic repairs.
Mark Roberts offered-up some of his guys to help with the clean-up of the woods if the winter is as mild as last years (Twsp $ well spent).
Kent E. Quain
8:57 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
I don't know that asbestos or lead paint would need to be disposed of if the building were not demolished.
The standard for lead paint and asbestos floor tile is to encapsulate. Much safer than removal as the inhalation hazard is the problem.
Kent E. Quain
9:03 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
No way could cost go as high as Erik Chuss is quoted saying unless we added a pool, sauna and jacuzzi!
Rasterone
10:19 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
We need good things back on tax rolls --consider a carefully worded sale to CIT as a rehab project for students to learn useful trades and to get it back on market for use as owner occupied housing --ask EASB and Wm Rider to sort out if a win-win is feasable
Rob Leiser
1:09 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
This Property could easily be subdivided. The House could be rehabbed and put back on the Tax Rolls. The Woods could be preserved by adding them to the Community Park
Ginny
2:57 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
I have not understood this whole thing. The house is cute, but not historic. Damaged and expensive to fix. Could be added to tax roles. So what's the big attraction? We already have paid for meeting rooms.
ellie reismeier
12:06 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
This is about preserving a piece of our disappearing past! Yesterday was HISTORY! Dating from a past time or culture is considered HISTORIC! The Old Growth Forest which many species of animals call home IS HISTORIC! The family that sold this parcel of land to the township wanted to see the home used for recreation purposes...not demolished!
Recreation is NOT just about Athletics. Our school systems have all but eliminated Art from their curriculum. The Save the Cottage in the Woods committee would like to create an art gallery in the Cottage and studios upstairs. The grounds would become an arboretum with nature trails and a picnic pavilion for residents to use. The grounds could be used for art in the park showings and outdoor galas. Plus....we are raising funds to foot this rehab project. Anyone wanting to support our efforts may contact us via e-mail at: forksart@yahoo.com or through fb at Save the Cottage in the Woods.