Work will begin soon on $91,000 in renovations to secure the historic Columbia Waterworks building.
The main part of the project is replacing all of the existing doors and fixing the rest of the glass block windows.
The work is funded partially by a $69,483 grant from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and partially by $21,942 from the city of Columbia.
The art deco building in City Park was constructed in 1947 and has been vacant for years. A project that began in 2015 and finished in 2017 cleaned, stabilized and painted it at a cost of about $209,000 ($161,000 of which came through a state grant).
On this second phase, initial bids came in too high so the city altered the plans and took new bids. The Board of Aldermen on Nov. 6 voted unanimously to approve the new base bid and three of five alternate bids. It is delaying replacing the electrical work and hopes to get another grant in the future for that.
“We’ve already invested in this thing,” Engineer Jeff Dungan, the project coordinator, said. “It will clean up some things. We’ll get a pretty good project for the grant. It will secure the building. Maybe the next project can continue it and move it forward with the electrical.”
On the current work, about $29,000 goes to architect Johnny Waycaster of Natchez, leaving about $60,000 for construction.
The bulk of that – $53,700 – goes to the main bid of the doors and glass.
Aldermen also approved:
• Putting double doors in the former water tank area for $5,200. said they can clean it out and use it for whatever the city wants. City officials have discussed using the area for a storm shelter.
• Cleaning up old lime and chemicals upstairs for $2,600.
• Removing broken chain rails over the wall and stairway and putting in a new rail for $1,600.
Mayor Justin McKenzie said it was necessary to spend the grant money and that the city could follow up by applying again. The city has until December 2019 to complete the project.
Pictured Above: Work will soon begin at the Columbia Waterworks building as grant money is used to continue restoration of the historic structure in City Park. | Photo by Mark Rogers
