Light at the End of the Rec Center Construction?

In attempting to track down the status of the Rec Center project, I spoke last week to Rick Tustin, Director of the City's Capital Program Office. I found Tustin thanks to the efforts of one of my intrepid neighbors, who had contacted the Capital Program Office last summer to inquire about the delays with the project. Back then, Tustin replied with a friendly letter explaining the delay was a result of the general contractor's "ongoing disputes" with the city's design consultant. You can read Tustin's letter on the forum of the Passyunk Square Civic Association.

Okay, fast forward, as they say, to five months later - in other words, RIGHT NOW - and we're still waiting for action in terms of construction.

Nevertheless, I have to admit, I was impressed with Tustin. First, he returned my call within 24 hours. Second, he didn't try to pass responsibility for this situation on to someone else.

"I can't do anything but apologize," he said. And while he said that, I couldn't help but feel that he's one guy on this project who really hasn't anything to apologize for.

He also admitted he hadn't read this blog, but of course he didn't apologize for that.

As he explained, of the 200 projects that his office oversees, there are currently only about four that are problematic - and Columbus Square is one of the four. So a ninety-eight percent success rate is pretty good news for Philadelphia, even though it hasn't been such good news for Columbus Square.

Tustin then went on to explain that last week he met at the site with the general contractor, the architect, and others, including community reps (including the indefatigable Susan Petrone) in an effort to keep the project moving. That would have been the same day I posted my photo of the "Contractor Sighting."

He anticipates that the Rec Center construction itself will be finished in May. The problem right now is that the roof - which any passer-by can tell you - needs to be completed. Actually, before it's completed, it needs to be repaired. They can't build anything inside because it'll get rained on through the roof. I do hope that inclement winter weather doesn't become yet another excuse for why the roof hasn't been repaired and completed.

But the good news here is that Tustin believes that the project will be completed in May. I mentioned this to one of my neighbors and, naturally, she replied, "Yeah ... May of what year?" Can't blame people around here for some skepticism, can you?

Additional good news from Tustin is that the City has granted a contract to a landscaping contractor, so that the landscaping around the Rec Center - including a new playground and dog run - will already be in the works as work is completed on the building. As Tustin put it, "I'm looking forward to turning over the keys on this project."

Let's hope Tustin is right. With completion of this project, he could bring his Office's score up to almost 99 percent for the year. As a civil servant with 33 years on the job, I'm rooting for him. If you think your job is a headache, just imagine what he has had to put up with.

But whatever anyone has to say about this project, I'll continue to keep an eye (behind my camera) on it and report on developments here. Along those lines, I recently discussed the project with the its architect, Lisa Armstrong of A K Architecture. I plan to provide some of her perspective on the project in future postings. Armstrong did the design of the impressive Lloyd Hall recreation center at the end of Boat House Row. There's no question that her design is light years ahead of the former recreation center on 12th Street. Now, if only they would finish building it.

Columbus Square in the News?

Word around the Square is that there's upcoming coverage on the Rec Center project in the local news media. Odd, this just two weeks after the start of this blog. I'll add a link here to any coverage in other media, but remember - you read it here first!