Opinion: Why Won’t the Town Research Options for New DPW and Fire Station?

Every Amherst taxpayer should be aware that the town will be starting to research the construction of a long overdue fire and DPW facility. But it seems that the exploration and consideration of several low cost construction models have apparently been ruled out. It is important to note that the current costs of the fire and DPW Centers together may range from $35M to $65M.  This is real money.  The last fire facility report was in 2006 with a projected construction cost of $14M.  A $35M firehouse in 2025 versus a $14M firehouse in 2006 is an increase of 150%.  

Declining to consider all potential construction, location and timing models risks higher completion costs triggering a higher tax burden for town residents. A future letter will offer specific taxpayer impacts for these potential build options.

Some of the construction potentials deserving research are:

1. Build both facilities at the current four acre South Pleasant St. DPW site. Four acres equals 160,000 square feet which could host both facilities.
2. Build both facilities either under one roof or within one campus.
3. Build both simultaneously or consecutively, not four to eight years apart. Building years apart will incur substantial cost escalations. Building years apart may mean only one building is ever built. If this sounds doubtful note that these projects are decades overdue already.

It is a positive opportunity to build two facilities simultaneously, consecutively or under one roof. There is much potential to save significant tax dollars, achieve timely project completion and possess the environmental, energy and operational efficiencies of shared facilities. There are numerous examples of towns nationwide building “co-Located” facilities. Hadley MA has a co-located public safety center and their new library and senior center were built simultaneously.

There has been some reporting on the need or interest in exploring new locations for the fire and/or DPW facilities. But with our current budgetary limitations in mind, the current DPW site is a substantial 160,000 square feet of land space with much of this site vacant or containing seasonal and dormant equipment that can be stored offsite.  The 2006 Fire Station Report calls for several building options that range up to 22,000 square feet with the current North Pleasant building at 7,000 to 12,000 square feet. It is understood that the total foot prints will be larger but these are not enormous spatial requirements.  Or consider partial site occupancy for the DPW in order to achieve some efficient duality.

If the site capacity of the DPW Yard is not enough for both facilities then factually demonstrating that will help all reach community understanding and  consensus. But to rule out these options with no scholarship could cost Amherst taxpayers much more in tax dollars. Town residents should be encouraged to follow this unfolding issue and to contact their town councilors to support an all inclusive facilities study. 

Terence Masterson is an Amherst resident and a longtime economic development director, formerly serving Westchester County, N.Y,  Cayuga County, N.Y. and currently Sturbridge MA.  He also served as Deputy Mayor and Trustee, Irvington, N.Y. (1983-93, 2009-2010)