NEWBURYPORT — Fencing is expected to be placed around the former Brown School’s gymnasium starting next week, the first overtly physical evidence that the structure will be torn down in the months to come.
In November, Mayor Sean Reardon picked Zeta InSite to convert the former Milk Street school to senior affordable housing. In December, the Boston-based company revealed a plan to build 29 apartments, all of which would be considered affordable by state metrics.
“Getting the gym taking down is the next big step. We hosted a very informative information session last month,” Reardon said.
The Boston-based company beat out proposals from YWCA Greater Newburyport, as well as CSI Support and Development. The YWCA proposed building 43 units, while CSI planned to build 56.
The Brown School building, which last served as the home of Recreation and Youth Services, has been closed since 2021, with the topic of reuse bringing up much debate. It is located in one of the most densely populated areas of the city off Lime Street and Milk Street.
In preparation for the project, the city has taken on the task of demolishing the gym at the Brown School, with the low bid for the project coming in at $411,000 and from by Bestech, Inc., based out Ellington, Connecticut. For months, Reardon had hoped of saving the gymnasium arguing that it was a valuable resource for the city.
Money for the demolition will come from various sources with $112,500 coming from a fiscal 2025 Housing Choice Grant already accepted by the City Council and designated for demolition and hazardous materials remediation. Another $225,000 will come from an appropriation order for what was called “Brown School disposition and site prep,” approved by the council during its Aug. 4 meeting. The city’s remaining $75,138 of federal HOME funds will also go toward the project, according to Reardon.
HOME is a federally funded program that assists in the production and preservation of affordable housing for low and moderate-income families and individuals. The program funds a broad range of activities including new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation of rental properties, according to mass.gov.
Sharing its latest timetable Wednesday morning, the city said in a statement that Bestech Inc. will be mobilizing construction fencing surrounding the site beginning the week of Aug. 25. As of Wednesday crews were hard at work clearing out the interior of the structure, with the basketball court hardwood partially ripped up and surrounded by a pile of debris.
Remediation and offsite disposal of hazardous materials within the building will be completed over a roughly three-to-four-week period going through September, followed by roughly a week or so of selective, phased demolition heading into October.
According to a diagram accompanying the city’s statement, both the gymnasium and connecting wing of the building are set to be demolished, as well as a partially subsurface boiler room and a locker room addition.
The remaining openings in the original school building structure will have temporary weatherproof enclosures installed. Additionally, an underground oil storage tank is set to be removed.
Bestech, Inc.’s Rob Sullivan explained that the demolition will be done with heavy machinery.
“We will use excavators with grapple attachments,” Sullivan said.
The contractor has until Nov. 14, to complete the work, but is expected to finish sooner. During this time, the playground, asphalt school yard, and all on-site parking areas will be closed to the general public.
Site improvements and renovations to the historical school building as affordable housing will be permitted and undertaken by Zeta InSite at a future date.
Zeta InSite founder Zeina Talje said they are excited to see the project taking the right steps and thanked the City Council, the Planning Department, and Reardon’s office for making it possible.
“We look forward to continuing our work and bringing the Brown School to life,” Talje said.
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.