SOUTH DEERFIELD — A request to use $3.8 million in CPA funds for the 1888 Building’s renovation will go before voters at an October special Town Meeting after the Community Preservation Committee unanimously approved the spending on Monday. 

The town is seeking the money to take the 136-year-old building and transform it into a modern town office that would serve as a key piece of the South Deerfield revitalization plan. With a $3.8 million request, the project, if approved by voters, will take up the lion’s share of Deerfield’s approximately $4.5 million Community Preservation Act fund balance.

There are two main elements of the project: the renovation of the original, historic portion, which will be covered by CPA money; and the construction of an addition to the building on Conway Street, which will be covered by a $4 million congressional earmark, as well as $650,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money. In total, with engineering and other costs included, the project is estimated at $8.5 million.

While Selectboard Chair Tim Hilchey and Town Planner Christopher Dunne pitched the project earlier this month, Monday’s meeting served as an opportunity for Kuhn Riddle architects and Project Manager Dan Pallotta to speak to the board about the renovation aspect of the project.

“We’re focused here on the cost of rehabilitation,” said architect Charles Roberts. “It’s a complete demolition of the inside of the building on the first and second floors.”

Alongside the gutting of the building, Roberts said all mold, lead and asbestos in the building will be rehabilitated; exterior doors and windows will be replaced with historically accurate replacements; and the building’s mechanical systems will all be modernized. Additionally, the building will be compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

While the basement and third floor attic space won’t be accessible to the public, Roberts added some work, such as the installation of a vapor barrier in the basement to reduce moisture and ensure it is safe for town employees. Other rehabilitation and restoration work includes the brick repointing, ivy removal, repair of gutters, and the removal of all exterior structures added over the years.

Pallotta, who also is managing Tilton Library’s expansion project, said 64% of the project’s costs are dedicated toward “existing building renovation.” In response to a concern about using the nearly $900,000 in contingency money from CPC member Peter James, Pallotta said it is likely the funds will be used in some way, as is common for nearly every project.

“There hasn’t been a public project in Massachusetts that didn’t use contingency at one point in time,” Pallotta said. “Ten percent is more-than-adequate contingency for the project.”

Members of the CPC were receptive to the project, with Chair Kathy Sylvester noting a project like this is “exactly” what undesignated CPA funds are for and this is a “meaningful” project for Deerfield.

“It’s really an excellent project and the response you made to our comments in the spring have brought it forward in a way that it’s gained unanimous approval,” added CPC member Julie Caswell. “Compliments to all of you who have worked on this project.”

Although the Community Preservation Committee unanimously recommended the project, it will meet again on Sept. 4 to determine potential conditions to include on the special Town Meeting warrant in order to ensure the project complies with CPA guidelines.

Those conditions would likely be similar to ones set on a CPA warrant article for the building at an April 2022 annual Town Meeting. Conditions in that article required all work to comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for historic rehabilitation, the hiring of an independent historic preservation consultant, all grant or ARPA money to be spent before CPA money and all funds to be spent within three years.

The CPA funding request for the 1888 Building will come before voters at a special Town Meeting set for Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. at Frontier Regional School.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.