Hightower Hall reaches final construction phase
MCCONNELLS -- After several years and many setbacks, the Culture and Heritage Museums marked the start of its final phase of renovations on Hightower Hall with a celebration Thursday.
The restoration of the 1850s-era three-story villa at Historic Brattonsville -- a project in the works since Charlotte architects were first hired to design in the changes in 2001 -- is expected to be finished by early next summer.
"It's a great day," said York County Council Chairman Buddy Motz during a groundbreaking Thursday. "We've had a few setbacks because of the increase in construction costs, setbacks because of bidding and setbacks finding qualified people to do this job.
"You can't just find any contractor to do an extensive program like this," Motz said. "In spite of those setbacks we're very excited that we're here today and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel."
The final phase of the work, to be done by Huss Inc. of Charleston, will include waterproofing the exterior, installing French drains to prevent basement flooding, rebuilding front and back porches, replacing the seam metal roof, installing heating, air conditioning and plumbing and adding two restrooms. Completed work has included restoring windows and shutters and removing lead-based paint.
Many uses for building
When Hightower Hall is finished, it will be used for educational programs, special events and private party rental, which Motz said will generate revenue. The Hightower Hall rental calendar will open in April 2009 to take bookings for July.
Environmentally friendly or "green" design aspects were included in the plans. The additions are expected to result in a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, or LEED certification. CHM officials said it may be the state's first historic building to receive the certification.
The 778-acre site of Hightower Hall has four buildings from the Revolutionary War era to the Depression. Van Shields, director and CEO of the museums, said that is historically remarkable.
"It's very rare that you find a historic site that has several generations of homes that were occupied by members of the same family on their original foundations," Shields said. "It's an extraordinary opportunity for us to continue the preservation of that larger Brattonsville story."
How it began
The project began in 2001, with Charlotte architects Friday and Doyne assigned to the renovation. Two years later, they submitted plans to make Hightower a banquet facility, meeting space and conference center.
In the fall of 2004, CHM sought construction bids without authorization from the County Council. Bids returned nearly $1 million more than the projected $1.7 million cost. Shields later told council members that the CHM didn't have enough money for the renovations, resulting in the rejection of the six-month-old bids.
In August 2005, the County Council agreed to loosen the requirements for the renovations and pledged $1.5 million to the project. CHM signed with Cherokee Investment Partners to develop the land and received $1.5 million from the company. It terminated its contract with Friday and Doyne in 2006.
Work began in October 2007 when the windows were removed for restoration. In February, the siding was removed.
This story was originally published September 5, 2008 at 12:50 AM with the headline "Hightower Hall reaches final construction phase."