By Cecilia Nasmith
COVID-19 has presented some challenges to work required on a wide range of Northumberland County facilities, but Manager of Facilities Brandon Upton told county council's Public Works Committee at its February meeting that a lot of it is proceeding anyway.
The addition of an accessible lift to the two-storey Maple Court apartment at 8 King St. W. in Colborne is well underway, a small addition to the front being added to accommodate the shaft. As this is the main entrance, residents are using a new entrance established in the common room.
A local contractor from Brighton is doing the work, Upton said.
“This is our last two-storey building that needed an accessible lift,” he added.
Replacement of the exterior concrete balconies on the two-storey building at 24 Queen St. in Port Hope was planned for 2020, but delayed by the pandemic because, as Upton said, “this is a very destructive project for the tenants. We want them to be able to leave if they choose during the construction.”
He briefly described the noise and vibrations that can be expected as the concrete balconies are torn away, and how they consulted with a professional firm to ensure it was safe to leave the balconies in place until 2021. Should a further delay be required, they will consult again to be sure they are still safe – though he does hope the work can proceed in August or September.
The problem is something called delamination of the concrete, something famously seen in Toronto in units near the Gardiner Expressway
“Repairs have been done in the past, but the repairs never held very well,” he said - the concrete used in the replacements has been formulated to resist delamination.
Other work on the horizon includes replacing stoves in 303 apartments later in the year, given that this project requires workers going into and out of residential units. The increase in all construction supplies is filtering down to appliances, so they are watching the budget on this one.
They are continuing hot-water tank installations at 12 Mead St. in Brighton and upgrading the security system at 112 Front St. in Campbellford.
At the William Street courthouse in Cobourg, design work is proceeding on a new entrance and waiting room strictly for POA matters.
At present, people only coming to the building to pay a parking ticket must use the main entrance, where members of the Cobourg Police service provide screening in a lobby where all users of the court services enter. Then they have to find their way downstairs to do their business. This innovation would make that process easier and safer.
Renovations are going on at a site social services staff have identified as appropriate for people at risk of homelessness.
That increase in construction materials is being felt, Upton said, with the price of a single 2x4 rising to $6 and kitchen-cabinet lead time expanding to eight weeks from two.
“We hope we can still carry out many of our projects,” Upton said.
“We are planning for them, working on the different RFPs, pushing them out in hopes it will be a safer community.”
Capital Projects Manager Mark McIntosh added some news on some larger projects, like the 40-unit Elgin Park affordable-housing redevelopment that will replace a row of nine duplexes on Elgin Street. The units will vary in size from one to four bedrooms, and eight will be accessible.
The design is 70% complete, McIntosh said, and they are working with the Town of Cobourg on approvals.
And the redesigned Golden Plough Lodge-Northumberland County Archives and Museum project is under construction – also in collaboration with the Town of Cobourg.
The town has transferred Courthouse Road to county ownership, and the county will close the middle section of this semicircular loop. Its eastern leg will be open between Elgin Street and Halcyon Place, while its western leg will be open between Elgin and Church on the Hill.
“Staff will bring a report monthly to county council to provide updates on the construction,” McIntosh said.
