One might say “come hell or high water, Waterman’s will be completed!” Fortunately the high water factor has already been taken care of. Because of its location right on the water on the island of North Haven, the enhancement of the community center required several adjustments relative to waterfront buildings within the floodplain.
Factors such as instability and harmful substances like asbestos and lead paint in the original building led to the difficult and emotional decision to remove the original building and begin again. The Waterman’s board of directors, the island community and Quinn/Evans architects worked through a long and evolving process to design the structure of the new building so that it is functional, efficient and as similar as possible to the old Waterman’s building.
The old building was torn down on April 1, 2002, with a large portion of the community in attendance. Bruce Laukka, Inc. had completed the site work with a new, watertight, foundation in by Memorial Day. However, respecting the increased pace on the island during the summer months, construction was halted to avoid clogging the ferry and causing congestion downtown because of the project’s proximity to the ferry terminal. This break in activity also allowed time to finalize the architectural plans and finish the necessary fundraising needed to continue.
With financial contributions from 194 individuals and nine private foundations and corporations, including a significant grant from MBNA America, the Waterman’s Community Center organization is within $75,000 of its capital campaign goal. In addition, the organization has raised $86,000 towards its endowment and is looking ahead to the final phases of the project: landscaping, restoration of the “red barn,” a valuable workshop space located beside Waterman’s, and securing the endowment to help maintain the long term viability of Waterman’s operating expenses.
In-kind donations to Waterman’s include, among others, original artwork by artist Robert Indiana of Vinalhaven (the 13 large panels were part of the set in the North Haven theatrical production directed by John Wulp, Red Eye of Love), auditorium seating by Hussey Seating of Portland, and original artwork by Eric Hopkins.
Thanks to everyone’s hard work and patience the framing phase of construction began in November. Despite over a foot of snow, crews plowed ahead towards their goal of having a framed in, watertight building by March, 2003. Interior construction and finishing will continue throughout the spring. By the high traffic season of summer, Waterman’s board of directors hopes that the building will be far enough along so that the continuing construction will not impact the heart of a busy downtown.
For periodic visual construction updates on the progress on Waterman’s, check the website, www.watermans.org.
Keeley Grumbach is an Island Institute Fellow working on North Haven.