Waterfront park’s Building 103 to receive a face lift

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Building 103, the abandoned, dilapidated structure in a corner of the new Truman Waterfront Park, is getting ready for its close-up.

Key West City Commissioners, acting as the Naval Properties Local Redevelopment Authority, unanimously agreed to hire an architectural firm to develop plans to spruce up the crumbling building’s exterior. The $48,344 contract will provide architectural services to design “envelope improvements” as well as address building interior safety issues.

“Existing Building 103… is being evaluated for future development as an event center, restaurant, museum or other function,” Greg Veliz, assistant city manager, wrote in a recent memo to City Manager Jim Scholl. “The city intends to implement the selected scenario in the next three to five years. In the near term, improvements to the exterior envelope of Building 103 so not to detract from the abutting park are recommended.”

The firm of Hayes\Cummings Architects will draw up final designs and construction bid documents that will “white box” the exterior of the 14,200-square-foot building, a former central power plant, to give it a less ramshackle appearance to visitors to the new waterfront park. The architects will also verify the condition of the interior of the building, which a 2014 survey found to be in poor condition in parts of the structure.

“The city has elected to move forward with minor renovations of the building envelope in order to preserve the historic character of this structure until a long-term plan for use of the building is approved by the city commission,” Hayes\Cummings said in its project description document. “These services are necessary in order to provide the city with a building that is serviceable in the short term and provides three to five years of serviceability in order for the city to make the necessary plans for a long-term capital improvement project to the building.”

The 2014 structural conditions assessment found Building 103 to be in “fair condition with areas that are in poor condition.” Some of the building’s problems include deteriorated concrete columns and beams, and other areas of “spalling,” or crumbing concrete. The 2014 estimate of the cost to make structural repairs to Building 103 was $662,000.

“There is a great deal of concrete repair required throughout the structure and a portion of the low roof requires restructuring,” said the assessment report by Atlantic Engineering Services of Jacksonville.

Work on Phase 1 of the new waterfront park began a year ago and is expected to be completed in mid-2018. The cost of the first of two construction phases is estimated at close to $19 million. Currently the city has approximately that amount set aside for Phase 1 and will contribute another $2.5 million each year going forward. The cost of the entire park is estimated at $58.5 million and will need significant grant and other funding sources to complete.

When finished, the 32-acre park will contain – if adequate funding can be found – a community center, multi-purpose recreation field, 500-person amphitheater, a restroom, and children’s play area with a water feature.

Phase 1 construction includes including installing sidewalks, electrical wiring, drainage systems, a children’s play area and water fountain, and landscaping. Phase 2 will complete the multi-purpose field, community center and horse stables.

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