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As you know, we will be getting a catch-up briefing on the City Hall renovation. Jeremy McPike, Director of General Services, and Jenine Kotob, AIA, Assistant Director of Capital Projects, will be speaking to us as to where we are at this time. Overall, things have been going well.
One setback has occurred; it was determined that extra steps were needed to ensure the safe removal of asbestos from the interior of the building. Discoveries of hidden asbestos have occurred numerous times in Alexandria renovation projects; many projects from earlier years included asbestos as insulation material. The best management practices learned over the years make this task more time-consuming but also safe, as an easy-to-follow protocol virtually ensures a successful outcome. This adds about 10 weeks to the project. Learn more through the press release linked below.
We will also get an update on the plans to construct geothermal heating and cooling beneath the parking garage. That may begin in the next few months.
We also hope to hear from the City what plans might be put in place to assist the many small businesses in the area that have been affected by this construction. Mayor Gaskins, who, as you know, will speak to us in November; she flagged this issue as a concern of hers. We are thus hoping for an early outline of what the City is planning to do for our business neighbors.
Finally, we also hope that the City Hall team will have good news on improving the construction fencing of the work site with photographic scenes of Old Town and beyond.
We have been promised some slides to show you progress updates of the construction phase, including photos of interior discoveries. You don’t want to miss them!
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