Select Board To Sign $10 Million Contract For 52-Bed Modular Dormitory

The Select Board is poised to sign a $10 million contract for the construction of a 52-bed modular dormitory on Waitt Drive for the town's seasonal employees.

Up for approval among the board's pending contracts during Wednesday night's meeting is a $9,987,000 agreement with J.J. Contractors, Inc., of North Billerica, MA, for the construction of the dorm, along with a companion $456,418 contract with The Vertex Companies, LLC, of Weymouth, MA, for owners project manager services.

The concept, according to the bid documents, is to "create a modular building for seasonal workers housing designed for maximum flexibility of bedroom arrangements to meet the changing and current needs at any given time. The building will also contain a common gathering/kitchen area, laundry facilities, and two permanent apartments for management and oversight."

The initial construction estimate noted in the bid documents was $8 million.

The funding for the project would come from money approved for housing initiatives within Article 17 at the 2022 Annual Town Meeting. The project features a proposed 11,000-square-foot building with 20 "bedroom suites" totaling 52 beds, along with 12 parking spaces on the 19,000-square-foot lot.