Current Status
Repair work is in full swing at the Fairhaven Branch! Stucco and brick repair is complete, and new flashing material has been installed. Rotten windows have been rehabilitated or replaced,
as have rotten beams in the Fireplace Room. Storm windows are being installed, as are new gutters and downspouts. The site is being regraded to move water away from the building.
The shrubs, trees and other plantings that were on the site are now being replanted. Some bushes and trees have been moved away from the stucco and sandstone foundations in order to allow better air circulation.
Some will be relocated elsewhere on the grounds; a few will find new homes at Bellingham Parks grounds.
After Dawson Construction completes their repairs, the City of Bellingham Facilities Department will be working on some projects indoors to get the library ready for public use. We will be installing a key card reader to allow easier access to community organizations using the meeting rooms after hours. The library will need some time to move all the books and materials back to Fairhaven, but expects that the branch will be open to the public the first week of January 2010. Stay tuned!
Executive Summary
The Fairhaven Branch of the
Bellingham Public Library is a much-loved and much-used civic building. In 2008,
104,000 people visited the branch, and community groups reserved its Auditorium,
Fireplace Room and Northwest Room for a total of 1,080 meetings. When built in
1904, this Carnegie Library was originally red brick. Early problems with water
infiltration led to the decision to stucco the exterior. Over the past 104
years, the building has continued to suffer from water damage. Past efforts to
repair the building have been piecemeal and a more comprehensive solution is now
sought. A seismic retrofit is suggested, and there is a desire to rehabilitate
some of the building’s historic details.
Historic Status
The Fairhaven Branch was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in
1977, as a primary structure within the Fairhaven Historic District. It is
significant both for its place in the social and intellectual history of the
community, and for its architecture. The branch is classified as a Northwest
interpretation of the Mission Revival style.
Condition Assessment
In 2006, The City of Bellingham contracted with BOLA Architecture + Planning for
a building condition assessment of the Fairhaven Branch. Water infiltration,
moisture and mold growth is evident on the building’s interior. The BOLA team
developed three priority levels of recommended actions and an initial cost
estimate, known as the
BOLA Report presented April 2007.
Repair and Renovation Plan
In 2008, the Bellingham City Council voted to provide $1.3 million from the
emergency reserve fund towards the completion of Fairhaven repairs, including
work on the building envelope such as stucco and window replacement. Fletcher,
Farr, Ayotte of Portland, OR was selected to prepare architectural drawings and
construction specifications, with the assistance of Bellingham firm RMC
Architects. This fall, it became evident that more funding would be needed, so
the City Council allocated another $1.0 million from its reserve funds.
Unfortunately, a thorough review of engineering standards to achieve the “life
safety” level of seismic upgrades has added another $1.2 million dollars to the
project, bringing the total cost to $3.3 million as of January 7, 2009 (see
budget
summary).
On February 5, 2009, over sixty-five people attended a public meeting to review the project and hear Bellingham architect Brad Cornwell of RMC Architects discuss design considerations. Many expressed their strong support for necessary repair work and interest in enhancing the building's amenities. Not all agreed that the entire project should be completed at this time, due to the state of the economy.
Architects presented revised cost estimates on February 18 that showed some savings, particularly in the area of seismic rehabilitation. The revised total project cost was estimated at $3,089,107. On March 23, the Library Board of Trustees held a special public meeting to discuss the revised cost in light of the current national and local economic situation. Although the project has been submitted as part of two federal stimulus proposals, board members do not feel that federal funding is imminent. Ultimately, the Board decided to recommend that the City Council approve repair work to the exterior envelope of the building, including stucco repair, rebuilding the stairs and entryway, re-grading and landscape work. The cost for this work is approximately $1,300,000. The City Council approved this recommendation at their meeting that evening.
Bids for the project were due April 27; the City Council awarded the bid on May 4 to the low bidder, Dawson Construction of Bellingham. The Fairhaven Branch Library will be closed beginning June 1 for the duration of the project, which is expected to take several months.
Please send any comments about the Fairhaven Repair and Renovation project to the Library Board.
Documents