AMHERST — Soaring construction costs are being felt in Amherst as bids for putting an addition onto the North Amherst Library, and making the 1893 building handicapped accessible, came in significantly higher than initial estimates.
But Town Manager Paul Bockelman said this week it is too early to know how the three general contracting bids received for the work might affect the project being paid for by an anonymous donor. The lowest of the bids came in nearly $500,000, or 38%, higher than the $1.25 million estimated price tag.
Because the work is dependent on the donation covering the full cost, with the town not providing any money for the expansion or accessibility, Bockelman said he has spoken to the donor during one of these predetermined “stopping points” in the process.
“We have to do our due diligence,” Bockelman said, adding that there is not a rush to accept one of the bids. “We have a few weeks to make a decision.”
Bockelman said the donor has questions about the competitive, fixed-bid process. The town also has an opportunity to examine the bids and figure out a way forward, including ways to potentially reduce expenses.
The low bid was submitted by Wright Builders of Northampton, at $1.73 million, or $475,426 higher than estimates that came from plans developed by Kuhn-Riddle Architects. The other bids came in at $1.91 million and $2.31 million.
Plans for the project show a community room for 40 to 45 people, two bathrooms and a wheelchair lift, all attached to the rear of the existing building.
While the project was endorsed by the Town Council in 2020, no town expenses have gone toward the project.
That will remain the case, and Bockelman said the project will only proceed if the donor is willing to provide enough money for the project.
Jones Library staff have been planning to shut down the building and consolidate branch library services at the Munson Memorial Library in South Amherst for the duration of the project. That will include transferring the collection, computers and furnishings, expanding open hours, and possibly using the larger hall at Munson for library services.
Should the North Amherst project not go forward, Bockelman said branch library operations would continue from that site.
Whether the project happens will have no impact on other town services or projects. The idea of reconfiguring road intersections near the library and the eventual demolition of a former service station building behind the library don’t depend on the building project happening.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
