"Not Really a Big Deal"

Stephen Whitehouse and Chris Anderson of Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects presented the "scaled back" plans for Promenade Hill to the Historic Preservation Commission this morning. They told the HPC that the "geometrics have remained the same," but the stone materials have been "significantly reduced." Gone are the granite setts, the boulder seating, the limestone pavers, the stone slab seating, the bluestone entry stones. The only stone that remains are the bluestone steps leading up to the historic Promenade. The rest, if to be replaced at all, will be replaced with concrete--cement. A little city that two decades ago beat back the construction of a massive cement plant on its border is now to have the entrance to its finest historic public space paved with cement. 

In the first image below, the red annotations indicate what has been removed from the design. In the second image, the green annotations indicate the changes. (Click on the images below to enlarge.)

Although it is not called out in the annotations, comparing the two plans reveals that the "scaled back" plan calls for planting fewer new trees. Also (and this is noted), some of the tacky asphalt paving leading to the playground is to remain.

Whitehouse explained the reason why bids were much higher than anticipated: "People are now bidding downstate prices on concrete"—the concrete needed for the foundation of the stonework. On the bright side, Anderson pointed out, that, since the primary goal, as established by Mayor Kamal Johnson, is to have the project completed by Winter Walk 2021, reducing the amount of "fine masonry work" will reduce the time needed to complete the project. 

Whitehouse and Anderson pointed out that the average bid on the project was $1.8 million. The changes in materials are estimated to reduce the cost of materials by $754,139 and the overall cost by $987,181 (since none of that fine masonry work will be needed), bringing the cost of the project down to less than $1 million. There are some "Add Alternate Options," should some wealthy individual or entity feel generous: $150,000 could bring back the granite sett plaza, instead of the scored concrete now being proposed; $150,000 could being back the stone block benches, now completely eliminated from the plan; $20,000 could bring back the bluestone paver bands; $50,000 could bring back the limestone plaza border; $20,000 could bring back the spray loop, instead of the less expensive ground spray now being proposed for the splash pad in the playground.

After the presentation, Phil Forman, who chairs the HPC, said, "Obviously, this is not where any of us wanted to be," recalling the HPC's delight with the original plans. After asking if there was anything the HPC could do to assist in securing additional funding, Forman said, "The best way to help you right now is to approve what you have presented." It was agreed that a certificate of appropriateness would be prepared to approval at the commission's next meeting on Friday, April 9.

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