City of Elmira - Elmira City School District Capital Improvements Project, 2024

Negative Declaration

Chemung County - The Elmira City School District, as lead agency, has determined that the proposed Capital Improvements Project, 2024 will not have a significant adverse environmental impact. The action involves a proposal to undertake a Capital Improvements Project, 2024 which includes various renovations and upgrades at the District's sites, buildings, and facilities.

Renovations of interior building spaces are proposed at multiple buildings including select classrooms, restrooms, health offices, and gymnasiums; select libraries, including at the High School, updated to modernized uses to meet current educational needs; and select cafeterias, serving lines, and kitchens. High School renovations will include a gymnasium addition to create an indoor training running track; converting the pool to a multi-purpose indoor athletic space; expanded fitness facility and locker rooms; reconfigured auxiliary gymnasium including expansion of lobby and improving circulation for students, spectators, and athletes; greenhouse upgrades; enclosure and renovation of the Global Engineering and Research classroom space; and converting the former TV studio to science rooms and related renovations to create offices and storage space. Proposed work at the Maintenance Building includes demolition of the shop area and construction of a new shop, maintenance, and storage structure. Proposed work at the Benjamin Street building includes construction of a storage mezzanine. Theatrical upgrades at several schools will include stage and auditorium house lighting, stage rigging and curtains, and audio and video systems. Renovations at the various buildings will include upgraded ceilings, flooring, walls, foundations, interior doors, and casework.

At multiple sites, building systems will be upgraded. Mechanical systems will include modernized HVAC equipment upgrades including items such as boilers; chillers, pumps, and piping; ventilation units and controllers; cooling at Broadway Academy, Fassett Elementary School (ES), Beecher ES, Hendy ES gymnasium and cafeteria, and High School gymnasium; Bus Garage vehicle exhaust system; and Maintenance Building furnace. Plumbing system upgrades will include restroom renovations, domestic water, sanitary, and miscellaneous plumbing upgrades. Proposed electrical systems upgrades include paging and public address systems; fire alarm devices; electrical service upgrades at the Bus Garage to support EV charging, aged service at Ernie Davis Academy and to support cooling in select other schools; interior, exit, exterior building, and site lighting throughout the District including Washington pedestrian walkway lighting and Coburn ES basketball court lighting; panel boards; and generators. Security and information technology (IT) upgrades are proposed for multiple sites to support building renovations and include expanded camera coverage, access controls, paging systems, data cables, and upgraded wireless devices.

Proposed building exterior envelope work includes items such as extensive masonry / brick restoration at multiple buildings; select windows replacement including at the High School, Washington, and Hendy ES; select roofs including at Coburn ES, Beecher ES, and Ernie Davis Academy; and metal siding upgrades the High School and at the Benjamin Street Facilities building. Other exterior work may include items such as select doors, walls, canopies, ramps, stairs, and railings at multiple buildings.

Proposed site work includes construction / reconstruction of paved surfaces including sidewalks, parking areas, and driveways at multiple sites including a new student drop-off / pick up driveway and additional parking at Pine City ES possibly on land to be acquired; and fencing at multiple sites. Proposed physical education / athletic facility upgrades include new and/or improved playgrounds including at Hendy ES, Broadway ES, and Broadway Academy; basketball / play court improvements including at Broadway ES, Pine City ES, and Coburn ES; Broadway Academy walking trail; and athletic facility upgrades at Ernie Davis Academy including tennis / pickleball courts reconstruction; baseball and softball field improvements including ADA access paths, scoreboards, softball field bleachers and removable outfield fencing, and baseball field netting; and discus cage and shot put landing upgrades. Other site work upgrades may include Ernie Davis Academy pedestrian bridge upgrades and upgraded storm drainage; outdoor classroom in Coburn ES courtyard; Broadway ES courtyard reconstruction; and miscellaneous upgrades such as Maintenance site main slide gates; Bus Garage bollards; Pine City ES well pump; tree trimming to improve safety sight lines at Broadway Academy driveway; restriping pavement to create additional play space at Riverside ES; and High School drainage and sanitary line upgrades.

The project is located at various locations in the Elmira City School District in the City of Elmira, New York.