With the professional guidance and financial support of brother Jason Borelli, ’94, whose son Drew is now a member and resident, the Board embarked on the following projects over the summer. We already had in hand a long list of deferred maintenance items and a project wish list. The board began to elect some of the most pressing items that would immediately secure the building envelope and improve the environmental conditions inside the house. But first, a local architect was hired to assess the property and create “as-built” drawings and documentation.
Thus far, we have replaced the troublesome thirty-six-year-old 70% efficient cast iron boiler, with two paralleled 95% efficient Weil-McLain condensing boilers. This new system not only will save thousands of dollars in fuel costs over the years, but it also ensures the Chapter will always some heat rather than no heat in the unlikely event of one boiler having a maintenance issue.
The next large project was the replacement of the exhaust fans for the second and third floor bathrooms. These fans and most of their respective duct work reside in the attic. The existing fans were mid 1980’s vintage and one had failed. It was a steamy year on the second floor. We chose the same manufacturer as the old ones, Acme Engineering from Muskogee, Oklahoma. They are 16” diameter low rpm in-line duct fans that will hopefully last another 30+ years.
In addition, a low-profile, stainless-steel mop sink has been added to the utility room, a much-needed addition for mop cleaning.
Wrapping up this week was the complete deep refinishing of the hardwood floors on the first floor. The sanding took eight workdays and the four, color and composite polyurethane coatings took another two days to complete.
Also, we are replacing all rain gutters and downspouts and having the existing wood fascia wrapped with aluminum. Six-inch commercial gutters and oversized downspouts are being installed.
On Monday, the masonry contractor will start the chimney repair project. This will include extensive brick repointing, flashing, crown, and cap repair along with removable hard caps on all but one flue. Beyond that we hope this same contractor can begin the long and involved brick repointing, and lintel and sill repairs this fall. The completion of that monumental task will then allow us to address the water damaged interior plaster walls.
The architect has started the Borough submission procedure for the much-needed replacement and expansion of the parking lot. This would add about seven or eight parking spaces. The second part of the submission would include possible expansion of the “beach” concrete patio on the Garner Street side of the house.
Landscaping bids have been secured for tree and shrub removal, slope and swale regrading and a hard pipe storm water capture and dispersion system.
Party room ceiling and light fixture replacement could happen mid academic year.
Longer term, we need still to replace all the windows and doors in the house.
Again, a big thank you to brother Jason Borelli, ’94 for his financial support and project guidance!
TR