The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

April 9, 2009

UPDATE: Buhl Farm Casino work will cost about $2.6 million

By Joe Pinchot

HERMITAGE — The apparent low bid total for the Buhl Farm Casino, Hermitage, renovation came in under budget.

The lowest of the five sets of bids total $2,634,112, just under the $2,751,000 budget.

“For as complicated as it is, that’s pretty close bidding,” said Don Hunter, park trustee-emeritus who wrote the park’s master plan eight years ago and has been instrumental in plans for the renovation.

The bids came in this way:

• General construction — Rien Construction, Brookfield, submitted a bid of $1,797,640. The other six bids ranged from $1,849,000 to $1,995,000.

• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning — Central Heating and Plumbing, New Castle, $288,303. The other bids were $319,729 and $343,000.

• Plumbing — Sheehan Plumbing and Heating, Sharpsville, $228,400. The other bids were $240,364 and $248,200.

• Electrical — Bruce and Merilees Electric Co., New Castle, $284,949. The other three bids ranged from $313,000 to $336,376.

• Asbestos and lead removal — Medico Systems, Ashtabula, Ohio, $34,820. The other five bids ranged from $43,875 to $87,900.

The general and electrical bid packages had a number of alternate bids that, if accepted, would change the contract numbers.

Greer Hayden, president of HHSDR Architects/Engineers, Sharon, said it will probably take a month to review the bids.

The project is a complete rehabilitation of the Casino, Hayden said.

“It’s something that’s badly needed,” said Hunter, a retired engineer and architect.

The Casino was built in 1915, and has fallen into disrepair over the years.

The exterior look will not change much, and some original features, such as skylights and a cupola, will be restored.

The building, designed by Charles W. Hopkinson of Cleveland, will get new siding, trim, Tuscan columns, windows and a roof. The old bath house, built in 1936, will be removed and ramps will be built to provide handicapped access and serve the new bath house, which was built a couple of years ago. The porches will be removed and rebuilt, including the north side porch that was removed years ago.

The first floor of the building will be gutted and fit for offices, with new bathrooms and a kitchen. The second floor will be refurbished, but will remain for large group use. An elevator will be installed, improving access to the second floor.

The building will be brought up to building code specifications.

Once the bids have been reviewed, Buhl Park Corp. will award contracts, officials said.

Construction will take about a year.

The project is funded by a federal grant, two state grants and local donations collected during a 2005 capital campaign.

Future projects include replacing the bridge over Lake Julia — bids are expected to be advertised for this project this summer — restoring the shoreline of the lake and the outflow, and improving the roads, which are likely to take a beating from construction equipment needed for the Casino renovation.

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