The President’s office at Washington College has provided the Town of Chestertown with a preliminary vision statement and conceptual drawings to outline its current thinking on the creation of a waterfront campus.
Summary
Washington College and the Town of Chestertown collaborated in placing the Lelia Hynson Pavilion on the waterfront. Many thousand students, residents and visitors have enjoyed it. More recently, the College worked with the Town to grant an easement between High Street and Cannon Street that permitted the Town to construct a waterfront promenade. These projects are emblematic of what our two institutions can achieve together, with the public being a primary beneficiary.
In late March of 2011, the architectural firm Ayers/Saint/Gross prepared the attached concept plan for Washington College’s 5.5-acre waterfront campus between Wilmer Park and the Chestertown Armory. The College now approaches the Town with a request to assign their potential ownership of the Sgt. John H. Newnam Armory at 509 S. Cross Street to Washington College. The College’s Board of Visitors and Governors authorized this request at their last quarterly meeting, which was followed by a formal letter to the Town Council on April 29, 2011. The geographic imperative of this action is compelling. The ownership of this property would solidify the College’s waterfront plans and settle the fate of the abandoned Armory. The College stands ready to repurpose the Armory through an adaptive reuse that will benefit both the College and the Chestertown community.
There are a number of compelling reasons why the Town Council should support this request:
•The Town will avoid all settlement costs related to the acquisition of the property, avoid the operating and capital costs associated with ownership of the Armory, recoup the Phase 2 Environment Study funds paid to Earth Data, and avoid all liability for any environmental remediation required for the building and land.
•Jobs will be created on site during renovation and in the ultimate use of the property. A conservative estimate is that 100-125 trades and craftsmen would be employed during any substantial renovation of the Armory building. The duration of this work would be estimated to last approximately 10-12 months, would cost approximately $3.25 million, and be constructed in compliance with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards at a minimum of the silver level. Staffing within the Center for the Environment & Society (CES) has expanded from a modest 1.5 full-time employees four years ago to 14 full-time employees today. Most of this growth has resulted from grant-funded positions. Current space limitations have inhibited the ability of CES to compete for additional grant-funded work. Expansion to the Armory would enable CES to grow its staff on a similar scale over the next four to five years.
•The estimated property tax revenue of $5,905 if the Armory were placed on the tax rolls, assuming a private sector buyer could be found, would be greatly eclipsed by revenue associated with the economic activity of the Armory fully owned and operated by Washington College. If CES is able to double its current staffing and operating budget through expansion at the Armory, it is estimated that this new activity would have an economic impact on the order of $1.2 million.
•The public will benefit through access and will have the use of the Armory as they do the Lelia Hynson Pavilion and facilities on the main campus. It is particularly exciting to think of the return of the Hospital Auxiliary’s Christmas Shop and the 7th Election District polling place, as well as possible new collaborations with the Chestertown Tea Party and the Schooner Sultana.
•The waterfront trails will come one step closer to total completion as the College completes a long and permit-intensive leg of the trail. The Riverwalk, which begins on the College property between High Street and Cannon Street, could now continue along Front Street, through Wilmer Park and the Lelia Hynson Pavilion, along the College’s waterfront campus all the way to the southern property line of the Sgt. John H. Newnam Armory.
•The use of Ayers/Saint/Gross by the Town for the Stepne Manor study will dovetail with the planning for the College’s waterfront campus. The College’s GIS Lab will assist both projects. As a result, the whole of the waterfront projects should exceed the sum of their parts.
•With the creation of a waterfront campus Washington College will achieve greater national prominence, which will also enhance the national profile of Chestertown.
The opportunity to join the Sgt. John H. Newnam Armory to the College’s existing waterfront holds the potential for developing one of the most distinctive waterfronts in our nation. Washington College and Chestertown would be renown to students, scholars, conference attendees, tourists, and other visitors who wish to pursue academic studies, participate in environmental stewardship, engage in a myriad of watersport activities, or simply to stroll along a waterfront promenade that would permit them to come into close contact with the eco-system of the Chester River. The activities at a rejuvenated waterfront would have a considerable positive impact on the economy of downtown Chestertown.
It is difficult to imagine any small town or college in the nation offering a similar set of amenities or potential for economic engagement for their residents. We hope that the Town will look favorably on our request as we promise to complete this project as we do all others: with pride and sustainability at the forefront.
Fletcher R. Hall says
Congratulations to both town and gown on collaborating on the concept of placing the Lelia Hynson Pavillion on the Chestertown waterfront. This is a win-win situation fot both Washington College and Chestertown.
THe former CEO of General Electric, Jack Welch, said ” Control your own destiny or someone else will”. It is good to see the town and the college embracing this type of thinking. It will benefit both for grnerations to come.
Carla Massoni says
Exciting on all fronts! Now lets make it happen!
The Bridge Troll says
[i[It is difficult to imagine any small town or college in the nation offering a similar set of amenities or potential for economic engagement for their residents.[/i]
How about paying property taxes. even at a 50% discount?
Alex says
I wondered who authored this view of future partnership? Interesting that for all the good will, no one signed it.
Joe Diamond says
This kind of project is mentioned in first Genesis. W e are told how in the beginning earth was without form and darkness was upon the face of the deep. Six days later we had. . .earth. We were given day and night, water and land, fish and birds; all present.
So now we have a proposal to dig up the land and move the water. The Army Corp of Engineers will look out upon this creation and demand papers. OSHA will see there are no fences separating the heavens from the earth and fine anybody present. Grass and trees shall be counted and if touched….EPA will stretch out a flaming sword and smite any who would stand against the trees yielding fruit.
This deal is “permit intensive!”
Joe