“The existing structure has outlived its useful life and needs to be removed,” read the official report compiled by Structural Design Consulting, and the City’s engineering firm TRC Engineers, Inc. following their inspection of the pavilion on January 4, 2019 as directed by the city’s Park Pavilion Committee.
The long-awaited structural recommendation report evaluating the structural integrity and ultimately determining the fate of the one hundred year old 8th Avenue Park Pavilion in Teague was reviewed by the committee Monday, January 28th.
Due to numerous structural deficiencies, the facility is deemed unsafe in its current condition. Engineers recommend that the pavilion remains closed to the public and removed in its entirety.
“Any attempt to properly repair or renovate the structure would require the pavilion to be taken down completely to its foundation and rebuilt.”
Engineers submitted their executive summary, noting that the structure does not conform to the 2015 International Building Code or the National Specification for Wood Construction and listing such deficiencies as rotted column bases, poorly designed structural framing, truss support that has separated and very near catastrophic failure, rafters support beams near failure, under-sized roof rafters and beams, and more.
The Committee voted to accept the engineers’ report, agreeing unanimously to present their official recommendation for demolition of the Pavilion structure at the next meeting of the City Council for consideration and action by the board of Aldermen.
Click here to read the full report.
In the meantime, the Committee will solicit all-inclusive bids for demolition from at least three contractors based on the scope of work to be determined by Public Works Director Jacob Cowling and Alderman Jerry Ballew, agreeing to meet again for more discussion when the bids are received, the committee also wants to start looking for skip bins services in order to make cleanup simpler during the demolition.
Furthermore, the Committee took steps to work toward preserving the history of the Pavilion through detailed photographs and a commemorative plaque; making salvageable materials available to the public if possible; and scheduling workshops and other means of gathering the public’s input for new facilities at the 8th Avenue Park.
The Committee will continue to work with the City Council throughout this process to represent the public’s interest in this very significant project.
Some discussion of the project may be held at the City’s Budget Town Hall meetings on February 4th at 10 a.m. and February 5th at 6 p.m. at the Community Center. Teague City Council will meet Tuesday, February 19th at 6 p.m. at City Hall
The Times will continue to follow the project as it progresses.
