NEW SCOTLAND — Calling it the “culmination of many months and years of design and analysis for renovation of” the Hilton Barn, the New Scotland Town Board this week approved over half-a-million dollars in upgrades for the historic structure. 

The board on May 24 approved a $529,200 contract with Sanz Construction of Staten Island to:

— Remove, retain, and replace the barn’s existing siding;

— Install new wood double-hung windows, wood doors, and a storefront entry system; 

— Install bathrooms

— Reinforce areas of the concrete floor; and

— Perform associated electrical and mechanical work.

Sanz had the lowest base bid, at $464,000; however, the town also decided to go with another $65,000 in additions:

— $23,000 for reinforced concrete floors in areas surrounding restrooms;

— $7,200 for additional power and lighting; and

— $35,000 for exterior barn doors, both sliding and fixed.

Councilman William Hennessey said most of the project will be covered by a grant, over $1 million, half of which was used to upgrade the slate roof. 

The request for proposals has a substantial completion date for the project of Sept. 15; however, due to the town’s investigation of Sanz’s qualifications and references, the company requested a 30-day extension of the deadline.

One of the two residents who attended the May 24 meeting in person said she thought there’d be more of a turnout, given how much interest there’s been in the barn. 

The town moved the 125-year-old barn, slated for demolition to make way for a housing development, across Route 85A  in 2016. 

Since then, the once-rural area has become heavily developed with the barn and the surrounding protected lands providing open, recreational space near the county’s rail trail

The town was notified in December 2019 that it was awarded the grant,  Hennessey said. 

“I think it’s our fault, we moved it too fast originally,” Supervisor Douglas LaGrange said, “because everybody expects it to be done fast. But we’re trying to do it with as little New Scotland taxpayer money” as possible — using grants, for example. 

The pandemic played a part in how long it took to get the project going, it was observed, but that was only a small part of it.