Honeyspot House: 2 Feet for $2 Million

Lifting designs at two feet should cost the town an additional $1 million and could delay the start of renovations as much as 18 months.

That's the worst case scenario following the realization that original designs and estimates to renovate Honeyspot House are not high enough to satisfy expected floodplain regulations that are anticipated to be enacted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 2013, according to school board member Joseph Crudo.

At that time, it's rumored FEMA will increase the floodplain elevation by three feet, Crudo said, which means Honeyspot House must be designed two feet higher than it was initially drawn up.

"We made a conscious decision," said Crudo. "If regulation changes, we're ready to go."

Crudo, who is also a member of the town's building needs committee, said the new design would require funds to purchase more fill, as well as pay for more drilling and other added engineering and architectural work.

The new plan will bring the total cost of the project up to about $16.8 million, Crudo said, adding that the original bonding package approved to pay for renovations at the school was $13.5 million. The school board member said he expects the state to foot about half of the bill -- including half of the $2 million to raise designs. 

However, the town has yet to hear back from the state about the additional request for more funding stemming from the new design, Crudo said.

"We are at the mercy of the state," said Crudo. He said the town has submitted a list of anticipated expenditures and it could take as much as 12 to 18 months to get a response from the state.

But Crudo is optimistic that the town will hear back sooner rather than later because the project is near the top of the list of a new state department called the Department of Construction Services, which teams up education officials with people on building committees.

"We hope the new committee will streamline the process, cut the red tape," he said.