September 5, 2019 by Carol Britton Meyer
“Today (Sept. 5) the first of the modular building sections arrived in addition to roofing/truss sections,” Bathing Beach Trustee Alan Perrault told the Hingham Anchor. “The additional modules will be arriving in the coming days, and pending the issuance of the building permit, assembly of the units will commence in the coming weeks.”
In late May the projected opening date for the new building was changed from early summer to around Labor Day of this year due to a number of circumstances. Then the targeted arrival of the modulars changed to around Labor Day, which is happening right on schedule. The bathhouse/snack shop/community room is now expected to be ready by next spring.
Town Meeting 2019 voted to allocate $120,000 of the town's Community Preservation Act funds for contingency/finish work. CPA funds come from a tax surcharge approved by Hingham voters in the early 2000s. This money may only be used for open space, community housing, open space acquisition, and some recreational projects.
Looking back, the first proposal for the new bathhouse came in over budget. So it was back to the drawing board to come up with a less-expensive but aesthetically pleasing modular design. Total funding for the project to date not including the above allocation is $1.2 million, including:
* a $700,000 Seaport Economic Council grant;
* a $150,000 2016 Town Meeting-approved Community Preservation Committee allocation; and
* an additional 2017 Town Meeting appropriation of $350,000 as the town's required 50 percent "match" for the Seaport Economic Council grant.
Signs depicting the history of the area will be installed along the harborfront, funded by a Greenbush Historic Preservation Trust grant.
The Hingham Farmers Market will continue to operate from the Bathing Beach parking lot for the rest of the season — through November.