Margate Public Works conceptual design.
MARGATE – It’s only in the preliminary stages, but Public Works Supervisor Frank Ricciotti said Thursday, Feb. 21 that the city is planning to replace its aging Public Works facility. He shared a conceptual drawing with commissioners and the public and said the city is attempting to make the rebuilding project as “neighborhood friendly” as possible.
Ricciotti shared design plans for a new building, which will replace two buildings at the city’s Public Works garage on Monmouth and Benson avenues. The plan is to demolish two buildings and consolidate into one larger space that houses eight garage bays and offices on the second floor.
The city hired William McLees Architecture of Somers Point last October to develop the design concept at a cost of $27,000.
Ricciotti said the city is currently in the process of conducting environmental studies at the site to determine if there are any contamination issues and is waiting for the architect’s estimate of the cost of construction.
“The old buildings are 100 and 50 years old,” he said.
Ricciotti said the department had to vacate its office from one of the older buildings after it was damaged during Hurricane Sandy. The Public Works Department office is currently operating out of the Margate Municipal Building on Union Avenue.
The new facility will house garages on the first floor, with room for the recycling coordinator, storage, a training room, break room and men’s and women’s rest rooms with showers on the second floor.
“We will have everything we need,” he said.
Because the new building will be relocated to the corner of Monmouth and Benson avenues, which has a higher elevation, the cost of flood insurance for the building will decrease, Ricciotti said.
A portion of Benson Avenue that has already been vacated will be reconfigured to make it easy for public works and police vehicles to get in and out, he said. Reconfiguring the layout of the street will also allow for easy access for residents dropping off trash and recycling at the Convenience Center on Sunday afternoons.
“Dumpsters along the wall now will be moved away to make it friendly for the people in back,” Ricciotti said.
The city is also looking to reconfigure the remainder of the site to create an area for public parking or possibly relocating the playground.
Original drawings were revised to ensure PWD has everything it needs, he said.
“It’s a work in progress,” Mayor Michael Becker said.
