City of Cheyenne considers $4 million restoration of 133-year-old pumphouse
Last year, this was one of Cheyenne City Council's top priorities. On Friday, members of the governing body met to hear updates on the project.
Randy Byers, the principal architect with design firm TDSi, gave a presentation about the historic pumphouse and potential ways to pursue the idea. From the outside, he said, the building looks like it's on its last leg and about to crumble. However, Byers said, its condition is not as bad as it seems.
'It looks like it's about ready to come down,' he said. 'Honestly, every time we are at the building, doing more reconnaissance and field measurement and an examination of the building, each time I am more amazed at what good shape overall the structure of the building is in.'
He said there are no stress cracks in the brick walls, which is common in other buildings with similar bricks, and that some roof members are charred from fires through the years, which has possibly protected the rest of the wood.
'Overall, the building is in resoundingly good shape for its age and for what it's been through, and it is certainly worthy of examination and consideration for repurposing and restoration,' he said.
The pumphouse is constructed in the Richardsonian Romanesque architecture style, the same as the historic Cheyenne Depot, and currently is around 3,800 square feet.
When the building was first put into use, it pulled water from Crow Creek, and there was a 2.5-million-gallon concrete-lined reservoir on the west side of the building. In the heart of the pumphouse was a Holly duplex steam pump.
When in commission, the pump produced 2 million gallons of water per day and pressurized the fire hydrants in town to 100 psi. Before telephones were available at the facility, the fire department would ring a bell when they needed the pressure upped at fire hydrants. Byers said the facility was manned and operated nearly 24 hours per day.
Byers said his team was mindful of preserving and restoring the history of the structure in putting together the renovation plan, while also working with the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, which is interested in leasing the space when renovated, to meet the needs of its offices.
This plan includes tenant offices, workstations, restrooms and a large conference room. Byers said he anticipates utilizing the large attic space for mechanical equipment storage.
The original roofing on the building was tin shingles, and Byers said his team has found sources to replace the shingles exactly as they were on the original building.
However, the full renovation of this structure will be costly, and the governing body is unsure of all funding sources at this point.
Currently there are no utilities connected to or in the building. It will need all new mechanical, electrical, interior restoration, stone renovation, roof replacement, roof reinforcement, reconstruction of the overhangs that have been cut off and brackets that have been removed to bring the building close to its original appearance.
The $4 million cost estimate includes a little over $500,000 in built-in contingency.
Another option would be to mothball the building, supporting it enough that it doesn't suffer further degradation or vandalism, but not prepare it for a tenant to move in. This is estimated to cost around $1 million.
Byers said the greatest danger for this building in the near future, if not renovated, is that it could suffer the same fate as the old Hitching Post Inn. Not necessarily arson, he said, but if a squatter starts a fire in the building to stay warm in the winter, it could quickly get out of hand and take down the structure.
The decision of whether to renovate, mothball or do nothing at all, will come before the City Council when TDSi has completed its contract for construction drawings on the project. If council members decide to move forward with renovations, bidding for the project could then begin.
Several council members asked questions and proposed ideas regarding the project. Council member Tom Segrave suggested the city consider adding amenities for the Cheyenne Greenway at the site, like a water station and a solar-powered bicycle tire air pump.
Council member Pete Laybourn suggested the city consider addressing the adjacent wetlands as part of this project, ultimately tidying the area up to further invest in West Edge revitalization at the intersection of the west end of 15th Street and the Reed Avenue Rail Corridor.
'This kind of multi-million-dollar investment deserves adjacent effort in that area,' he said.
The city approved a $424,00 contract with TDSi last September to complete construction documents for the historic pumphouse.
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