A lot of people have expressed concern about the future of the mural as we look toward expansion. Nothing has yet been decided as to the ultimate fate of the mural that graces the north wall of the building. The Co-op's Board of Directors is in the process of gathering information and trying to present the owners of the Co-op and the public in general an overall picture of what saving the mural might entail. There are many people that have a very personal and passionate connection to the mural but public opinion seems to run the gamut from save the mural "at any cost" to the desire to see the Co-op use its time, energy and money in other ways.
The Co-op has gotten an estimate from Builders Commonwealth, our general contractor, that preserving the north wall that holds the mural would ultimately cost in excess of $25,000. This estimate includes the time to brace, waterproof, core fill the hollow pockets, stabilize the wall, separate the roof and floor from the wall during the demo phase, add cap flashing and bolt the new wall to the old. Saving the north wall also somewhat compromises the overall use of the property because the wall is crooked and not on our property line. Ultimately, there is no guarantee that the mural will survive unscathed and the responsibility of its ongoing maintenance is a cause of concern as well.
The board heard from Kelly Dupre, one of the teachers involved in the mural project, who explained the history and process of the mural. The board agreed that a committee should be formed to research saving the wall and to explore other ways to preserve the mural.
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