Renovation project moves closer to start date
Date: 11/28/2012
By G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.comCHICOPEE — The process to transform the former Chicopee High School building into a new middle school recently went further.
Mayor Michael Bissonnette told
Reminder Publications the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has agreed with the design plan submitted by the city. This decision puts the budget of the renovation project between $30 million and $32 million with the city's financial contribution at about $6 million.
Bissonnette said that now the city can prepared the bidding documents.
He explained the decision by the MSBA made on Nov. 14 was due to the hard work by the Chicopee project teams. By preparing the documents needed by the MSBA, the authority made its decision during this calendar year, which will save the project two months in construction time.
The bids will go out next summer and the renovations are expected to start in the fall. Bissonnette believes the job will take a year and a half.
He cautioned, though, "there are secrets within the wall," and noted that once the interior is being demolished and any unknown challenges are discovered, the length of the project may be altered.
