If you’ve driven by Centennial Park in the last 24 hours, you’ll notice the gazebo is no longer standing.
Crews began demolishing the structure Monday, according to Robert Beall, a project manager with the city of Sanford. Demolition is expected to be completed by the end of week.
A recent inspection revealed the entire gazebo had severe termite damage and the structure was leaning. The gazebo also did not meet today’s standards for wind load or for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
A new gazebo is scheduled to be rebuilt in the new fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. The new structure is estimated to cost $150,000, primarily because it would be built out of steel. Beall said a steel structure, while more expensive on the front end, would last longer and require less maintainence.
Details on what the gazebo would look like have not been finalized, however, the structure most likely will not be raised (to mitigate building ramps for ADA access) and will not include built-in benches.
An interesting observation at the gazebo demo site: the city’s contractor is not using a Waste Pro dumpster. The city’s agreement with Waste Pro, the city’s garbage service provider, requires contractors to use ONLY Waste Pro dumpsters.
Local contractors have long complained the requirement to use Waste Pro (which is not a unique to Sanford) is more costly than other dumpsters providers. Perhaps the company doing the work owns the dumpster. I’ll find out.
Sanford, Fla. 