Rundel Library Elevated River Terrace Reconstruction City of Rochester, N.Y. Application Number July 2017

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1 Rundel Library Elevated River Terrace Reconstruction City of Rochester, N.Y. Application Number July 2017 PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Rundel Library is a nationally registered historic building surrounded by elevated public terraces on three sides. The library and terraces are bounded by Broad St., South Avenue, and Court St, directly adjacent to the Genesee River in the City s Central Business District. The elevated library and terraces were constructed in the 1930 s over the former Erie Canal bed and historic second Erie Canal aqueduct and are supported by a steel and concrete framing system. River Terrace Closed to the Public: Due to the advanced age and exposure to the elements, the north riverfront terrace and east sidewalk have exhibited severe structural deterioration and the north terrace area is now permanently closed to the public. Project Objective: The City is seeking construction funding for this critical public improvement project to reconstruct the closed riverfront terrace and sidewalks and restore this vital public amenity. The Rundel Library and terraces are surrounded on all sides by heavily trafficked urban destinations that include the Blue Cross Arena, the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, and extensive office, educational, restaurant, and mixed use residential buildings and parking garages. The closed and deteriorated areas present many public hazards from both a physical and safety perspective. The fenced area is an eye-sore and an unsafe waterfront dead space that is a large repellent to Center City visitors, businesses, residents, developers, educational, and library institutions that promote downtown vibrancy and encourage economic investment. North Terrace City of Rochester, NY CFA Application No Page 1 of 8

2 Rochester Riverside Convention Center B&L Library PROJECT AREA Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial Rundel Library Johnson Seymour Raceway and Historic RR Building COURT ST. DAM Location Map Rundel Library Elevated River Terrace Reconstruction Project City of Rochester, New York CFA Application No

3 STATEMENT OF NEED Vibrancy and Economic Investment: The project will reconstruct and re-open to the public, a highly valued public waterfront open space and scenic area along the Genesee River that will promote visitors, businesses, residents, and educational institutions that bring vibrancy and encourage economic investment. This project is at the very core of Rochester s Center City District (CCD). Over the last few years, the CCD has seen a tremendous influx of active residential and commercial real estate investment totaling over $800 million and counting. Repair and modernization of this critical core downtown public space only becomes more vital as these investments grow. The surrounding Blue Cross Arena, Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Rundel Library, and numerous businesses are critical in bringing out-of-city, county, state and international visitors and their spending activities to Rochester. This translates to jobs and earnings within the local economy. Reconstruction of this aging, failed infrastructure directly aligns with the Region s strategy to invest in infrastructure to improve and strengthen communities, create economic opportunity, and grow and retain the region s workforce. Sense of Place and Historic Preservation: Located in the heart of the Center City, the terraces are contiguous to the Rundel Library, a nationally registered historic building and the Broad Street Aqueduct, an ASCE designated landmark. The library area is adjacent to Court Street Bridge and Lehigh Valley Railroad Passenger Station (currently occupied by the Dinosaur Barbeque restaurant) that are both listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The project directly aligns with the region s desire to implement community development, infrastructure, and strategies that reinforce the identity, sense of place, and character of the area through downtown redevelopment, adaptive reuse of existing buildings and infrastructure, and historic preservation. Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP): This waterfront plaza can be considered a link in the larger Genesee Gateway Trail System, a designated National Recreation Trail. The renovation and retention of this important link is consistent with the City's Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan. The LWRP recommendations include development of a continuous linear river trail system along both sides of the Genesee River within the boundaries of the City of Rochester, to be known as the Genesee Riverway. City of Rochester, NY CFA Application No Page 3 of 8

4 SCOPE This critical public improvement is absolutely vital in attracting and retaining residents and patrons of the surrounding public and private entities. It will infuse new life and vibrancy into the Center City and encourage civic and economic vitality. Implementation would be as follows: Design Phase: The City of Rochester has procured a consultant through an extensive RFP process and is currently engaged in the planning through final design phases of this project. The project includes a complete structural reconstruction of concrete and steel framing, slabs, columns and foundations. The design will include full review of functional and public needs of the project area, and design development with the City, stakeholders, and the public to create a new, updated public riverfront terrace that draws from the City s many planning initiatives, including, but not limited to, Rochester s Center City Master Plan, the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, and the Rose Fellowship of Rochester initiative. The design will include river viewing platforms, historical and educational interpretive features, public seating, landscaping (planters), paver treatments, bicycle amenities, railing, and lighting upgrades. Supporting infrastructure for food trucks and vendors will also be provided. Environmental quality reviews will be performed, and creation of preliminary plans will be developed for advancement directly into final design documents for advancement directly into bid and construction. Construction Phase: The City is seeking construction funding for this critical public improvement project. Funding will be utilized for advancement of the final design to public bid and award, construction, and construction oversight. The bid and award process will follow all State and City purchasing procedures as applicable. All construction will be properly inspected to ensure compliance with contract documents. FUNDING REQUEST Financing needs are as follows. The source of the local match will be City bond funds or City cash capital requested in the City of Rochester s Capital Improvement Program. State $1,560,000 + Local $6,240,000 = Total Project Cost = $7,800,000 Architectural/Engineering/Softcosts Secured - City of Rochester (Local) Funding: $1,300,000 Construction/Renovation Secured City of Rochester (Local) Funding: $2,157,000 Construction/Renovation Anticipated City of Rochester (Local) Funding: $2,783,000 Construction/Renovation Anticipated ESD Grant (State) Funding 20% Max.: $1,560,000 ESTIMATED PROJECT TIMELINE Design and Environmental Review / permitting phase: 2017 thru Fall 2018 Public Bid & Construction: Winter 2018 thru 2020 City of Rochester, NY CFA Application No Page 4 of 8

5 SITE HISTORY The Rundel Library, a three story, 120,000 square foot facility, adjacent to the Genesee River and to the historic second Erie Canal aqueduct, was completed in 1936 as a Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) project, along with the construction of its adjoining grade level terraces. The Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in October 1985 (Reference No ) and on the New York State Registry in August The library foundation sits over the bed of the original Erie Canal (circa 1825) and Johnson Seymour Raceway (circa 1815). In the early 1900s, the Erie Canal was re-routed south of the city, leaving the Johnson Seymour Raceway intact, but drying up the bed of the Erie Canal. In 1924, prior to the construction of the library, the first phase of the Rochester subway began construction. The subway tracks were placed within the bed of the Erie Canal, directly adjacent to the Johnson Seymour Raceway. From 1927 until 1956, the area beneath the Rundel Library was one of the main stations for the Rochester subway system. Following the end of subway service on June 26, 1956, this area was abandoned. The Rundel Library was built as a part of the Civilian Conservation Corps relief program in 1934 due to the desire to create jobs, re-invest in the downtown core and be situated on City property. The Rundel Memorial Building, as designed by Gordon and Kaelber Architects, was constructed directly above the active subway tracks and the functioning Johnson Seymour Raceway system. The west façade features a series of openings from which water, from the historic raceway, cascades to the Genesee River below. Given the library s designation on the national and state historic register, repairs and modifications at the site must be historically sensitive. All work will require review and coordination with the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the Landmark Society of Western New York. Planning, preliminary and final designs shall be presented to the City s Planning Department, Traffic Control, Library, and Historic Preservation Boards for review and approval. Rundel Library as constructed in The North Terrace was constructed after this photo was taken. Rundel Library construction above Rochester subway system and Johnson Seymour Raceway. City of Rochester, NY CFA Application No Page 5 of 8

6 PROJECT DETAILS Rundel Library and Terrace Substructure: The substructure framing system supporting all elevated concrete terraces and sidewalks is constructed of a conglomeration of steel columns, beams, and plate-girders. The rolled steel beams and columns are encased in cast-in-place concrete. The built-up plate girders are encased in a combination of cast-in-place concrete and masonry clay tile. The encasement has served as fireproofing and corrosion protection to the structural steel. The steel columns are supported either on concrete piers or subway skid walls bearing in the existing original Erie Canal bed. In the terrace areas, the structural deck supported on the steel framing is a formed reinforced concrete slab. The structural slab supports varied wearing surfaces including sidewalk panels, stamped concrete, precast pavers, and asphalt paving. Typically, a layer of clay tile can be found between the wearing surface and the structural slab. Due to aging and the infiltration of water into the cracked concrete encasements, the steel beams and columns and concrete structural slabs have experienced section loss as a result of oxidation and corrosion of the steel. The terrace reconstruction project renovate structural supports and include a complete concrete terrace slab and sidewalk reconstruction. City of Rochester, NY CFA Application No Page 6 of 8

7 North Terrace and East Sidewalk: The North terrace, and the East sidewalk substructure and deck are deteriorated and in generally poor condition since no substantial work has been done in these areas in many years. Due to the 60+ year age of the structure, the North terrace has experienced substantial deterioration and has reached the end of its useful life. The concrete is in poor condition, with corroded steel, cracks, spalls and holes typical throughout. The steel framing and columns below have experienced significant corrosion and have required emergency shoring and repairs in the past. The North terrace is now closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The East sidewalk, along South Avenue, is a monolithic structural slab spanning from the East terrace s concrete foundation wall to the original eight foot thick rubble-stone wall of the Erie Canal, which is aligned parallel with South Avenue. The supporting structural elements are in similarly poor condition. North Terrace Elevated East Sidewalk City of Rochester, NY CFA Application No Page 7 of 8

8 Innovative Opportunities for a Revitalized Space: There is a huge opportunity to reconstruct the terrace as a vibrant space that celebrates both the Rundel Library and the history of the aqueduct and the Erie Canal. Currently, the terraces are primarily used for pedestrian circulation to the Rundel Library and adjacent facilities, with permanent benches and a bus shelter located on the East Terrace. The existing North terrace is a bare concrete surface with several portable picnic tables that is now closed. The Library and its terraces share spatial relationships with the surrounding businesses, arenas, streets, and the public realm as a whole. Consideration will be given to the potential that these spatial relationships bring to the site, and the site s role in contributing to the vibrancy of the City s streetscape. Consideration will also be given to maintaining the symmetry and balance within the terraces, in relation to the library itself, and Gordon and Kaebler s original architectural design. Interactive pedestrian friendly attractions such as exhibits, vendors, food trucks, fountains, and park-like features should be explored to support and extend the library s functions to the community, activate the Genesee River waterfront, and to engage the City at a larger scale. City of Rochester, NY CFA Application No Page 8 of 8

9 Glass Flooring Observation Area TRAIL HERITAGE FOOD TRUCK HERITAGE TR AIL CANOPY STRUCTURE RIVER THEATER PARKING PUBLIC ART PLANTERS WITH SEAT HEIGHT WALLS WATER FEATURE Public Art & Water Fountain READING ROOM RIVER THEATER READING ROOM READING ROOM CANTILEVERED DECK GLASS FLOORING SUBWAY WALLS INTERPRETIVE ELEMENT WATER FEATURE & RUNNEL PRELIMINARY DESIGN CONCEPTS - NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION Rundel Library North Terrace July 2017