Report Shows Dire Condition Of Old City Hall

QUINCY - A final architectural study of Old City Hall details a litany of structural and safety issues in the 167-year-old building that will form the foundation of a major renovation project and the temporary relocation of some City offices.

The report, written by the Quincy architectural firm Holmes and Edwards, Inc. concludes that the building is in "very poor condition in almost every imaginable way," including inadequate fire protection, termite and beetle infested support beams, ceilings heavily damaged by leaks, poor heating and cooling systems, non-code compliant electrical and wiring systems, nonexistent handicapped access, asbestos and mold in several areas, and "emergency egress from all levels of the building (that) is inadequate and illegal by current building code standards."

The building, one of the oldest functioning City Halls in America, will need between $6 million to $8 million in repairs. In the meantime, the City Council, City Clerk and other offices will be moved from the old building to either the existing City Hall Annex or a temporary location in the Munroe Building directly next door to City Hall.

"This report confirms what we've suspected since we began reviewing the conditions of the building: Something has to be done, and it has to be done soon for the building, our employees, and our residents. If we wait much longer, it is only going to cost more; or worse, we will lose this treasure entirely," said Mayor Thomas Koch, who appointed a special committee to facilitate renovations. "This is one of the most historically significant government offices still functioning in the Country - and it will be preserved."

In addition to detailing the current conditions of the building, the report offers a first draft of potential renovations to the building, both inside and out. The Mayor and the renovation committee will be working in coming months on a more detailed scope of work that will be part of a $200,000 design study paid for the by the City's Community Preservation Fund.

Koch also noted that he has no plans to use money from the City's general fund to pay for the project, saying he will propose Community Preservation Act financing and related historic grants to pay for the work. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and the work will require collaboration with the Massachusetts Historical Society.

City Clerk Joseph Shea is heading the renovation committee. His office - and a library of historic City records - are in the old building.

"This is a tremendously important historic landmark and its is tremendously important to the people of this City. We have a responsibility to care for our records, our workers and the public who use this building a daily basis," Shea said.

Plans to move City Hall offices out the old building began months ago as information and draft reports began detailing the series of problems with the building, and the move is expected to be completed this month.

The Holmes and Edwards report relies on a series of outside report by specialty consultant, including structural engineers, systems specialists, and hazardous materials experts. The report was funded by an initial $75,000 grant from the Community Preservation Act.

In its preliminary scope of work for the renovations, the report essentially calls for a complete structural renovation of the building, both inside and out, to preserve the building and bring it up to current building codes.

No decisions on design elements will be made until the formal design and architectural process begins in earnest. Still, the report suggests a number of ideas, such as creating new exhibit space in the existing basement of City Hall as well as transforming some existing offices into meeting space and a permanent relocation of the City Clerk's Office out of the old building.

"This is an important first step, and we will be working with the committee going forward on the specific details and plans for the renovated building. Whatever the final design, I fully expect that this building will become a historic centerpiece open to the public that will fit perfectly with the broader efforts to highlight our history that are part of our Quincy Center plans," Koch said

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