East Aurora Advertiser

New Town Hall Cost Still In Discussion



Architects and elected officials were on hand for an open house last week to discuss the proposals for the new Aurora Town and Village Hall.

Interior layout plans for the new town and village hall.

The interior layout was revealed, with a chance for the public to ask questions or make suggestions. About 25 people showed up to the Oct. 25 forum, with turnout split between local officials familiar with the project and others curious about the plans.

The cost of the entire project is still under consideration. Aurora Supervisor James Bach said architects are still working on the design elements to determine the estimated costs. He hoped to have that number for the public by December.

In the past, the town has said it would cost several million dollars, and told auditors with the Office of the New York State Comptroller that it could be between $3 to $4 million. A recent audit by the state looking at how the town sold and purchased property, also noted that an architect’s estimate was at $5 million for renovations of the former Oakwood Avenue fire hall.

When asked about the potential cost and whether it would be in the $4.5 million range, Bach and architect Paul Ernst said that number was a goal, but was not official. Ernst said they were planning for a building that could get through 40 to 50 years with minimal problems, so they were looking at making things durable.

So far, the town has obtained about $400,000 in grant money to help with the project. They are looking at other funding for the project.

If all goes well, construction should start by spring of 2019, Bach said. Once the architects have finished the design process with a cost estimate, they will send the plan out for bids in December, approve a bond for it by January and get shovels in the ground when the weather improves. He said the construction timeline estimate is 16 months, making it done by summer of 2020.

While the town has been preparing for the move since 2016, it was only in April of this year that plans began to bring the Village Hall offices into the building, too. That caused a delay in the design process as the architects began working with village officials on what they wanted.

The interior design was revealed at last week’s forum – images of it can also be seen with this article online at www.eastaurorany.com. It, too, it still under consideration, but the current plan has village offices close to King Street and the town offices on the western side of the building. They would share several spaces, like a kitchen area, but would have their own places for the clerks and administration.

The Town Historian’s section would be on the first floor, too. Glass cases with locks would be outside the main office to allow people to see museum artifacts any time the town and village hall is open. Currently they are only visible when the historian’s office is open, normally Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m.

The rest of the historian’s section would be a mix of storage and research center.

The building department and assessor’s office will also be on the first floor.

The second floor of the building will host the main meeting room for the town and village meetings. It has space for at least 100 people to attend. There are other meeting rooms upstairs, which can be accessed through stairs or the elevator.

The second floor will also hold the offices for parks and recreation staff.

There are no plans for additions to the building. An expanded parking space has been installed, and the town is still working with neighbors along Sycamore Street to provide a buffer between the parking lot and their backyards, which are right next to the property. A fence and vegetation are planned for around it, but some residents were concerned about gaps behind the fence that could allow people to walk between the new town hall and their backyards.

Both the town and village are talking about how 2019 will be a busy construction year in that area. Along with the new municipal center, the village is going to completely renovate Oakwood Avenue, fixing water and sewer lines, replacing sidewalks and the entire road. East Aurora Mayor Peter Mercurio said the two governments would try to make it as non-intrusive as possible, but it would be a busy area.

Photo by Adam Zaremski
Donald Aubrecht, right, talks to people about the designs of the new town and village hall. He is part of the architectural firm Fontanese, Folts, Aubrecht & Ernst that is designing the building.

While it will take a lot more work and cost more money, officials are excited about the move and sharing space.

“I think this will change the whole fabric of that corner of the village [for the positive],” Bach said. “I’m very excited about this, about the combination of the town and village offices.”

Mercurio agreed with those thoughts, saying the town was doing a good thing to fit into the character of the area.

“And I’m excited for the opportunity for the village and town to work together,” he said.

He said the move together could also provide additional grant money to cover some construction costs as New York State has been pushing for neighboring governments to do more and share resources.

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