Windermere hosts town workshop to discuss options for new facilities

Windermere residents and council members gathered Monday, Dec. 3, to learn the latest on the progress underway to build new town facilities.

Prior workshops relating to the town’s initiative to construct new buildings for the police, public works and town administration departments focused on determining whether the 1887 schoolhouse currently serving as the town’s government facilities were adequate.

The study’s results determined they weren’t – not even close.

So the town council hired consultants to assist with decisions for the site location and concept designs. It was ultimately decided the new facilities would be constructed at their current downtown location.

TWO OPTIONS

During this latest workshop, Winter Park-based Architects Design Group presented town officials with a powerpoint comparing the renderings of two options it has designed, which can be customized later.

Option 1, known as the H-shaped option, totals 11,477 square feet and is estimated to cost $5.126 million to construct. While Option 2, referred to as the T-shaped option, includes 11,245 square feet and would cost roughly $5.206 million.

Both options would connect the police department and town administration offices in a one-story building featuring colonial architecture, and house the public works department in a separate one-story building spanning 2,554 square feet. But one largely noticeable difference between the two options is the inclusion of a modern lobby in Option 1 that measures 1,175 square feet and connects the town’s police department and administration offices.

Windermere Police Chief Dave Ogden, who has pushed for years to upgrade the police department to meet accreditation standards, said he is pleased the town is moving forward with the initiative.

“We've been working with the consultants for the past few months and I really like what they've presented,” Ogden said. “For me, I've always been concerned about having a hardened police department that meets professional standards and accreditation measures. So truthfully, to me, it doesn't matter what it looks like, but I love what they've put together. It really fits the charm of what we have right now.”

MARCH REFERENDUM

Now, the town must decide on whether to move forward with Option 1 or Option 2 – the costs of which differ by about $80,000. 

Due to limits imposed by the town charter pertaining to how much money the town can borrow for projects, the next step lies in the hands of Windermere residents. 

In March, town residents will be asked to vote on whether to allow the town to borrow the required money to fund the next phases of the project. Smith will also look for potential federal and state grants that could help with the costs, he said.

“If they say no, then we just can’t,” Windermere Town Manager Robert Smith said. “But I don’t think people really understand the need until they set foot in this building or the police department. They just see the cost and the reports, but until they come here, they might not understand the desperate need for it. It’s hot; it’s cramped; I mean, it’s an old schoolhouse. It was never meant to be a government facility.” 

Last time, a referendum to increase the town’s borrowing limits failed by 40 votes, Smith said. But he suspects it was, at least partially, due to residents not knowing what, exactly, they were voting for.

“I think people felt like they were just writing a blank check to the town,” he said. “Now that we have all the concept designs and the layouts for people to see, hopefully, it will appease those who voted no last time. But if they say no again, I don’t know, I guess we’ll have to go back to the drawing board to see what else we can do.”

Smith estimates the town’s new facilities could be completed in about three to four years, if the town approves to fund the project in March.