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Creating shelter – Bids out for modular project

By James Day

The City of Silverton is accepting bids for rehab work on a modular unit that will serve as a warming shelter for clients of Sheltering Silverton.

The city has set aside $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the project. The closing date for bids is March 21. The bid process opened Feb. 28.

Sarah White, executive director of Sheltering Silverton, said that the project, which includes four pallet shelters, hopefully will be completed by early summer.

The modular unit at the city of Silverton Public Works complex. The city is accepting bids on rehab work that is needed to enable the portable unit to be used by Sheltering Silverton. James Day

“Once the remodel on the modular building is completed and inspected, the city will turn that building over to our organization and we will lease the land,” White said, “We will also be putting up four micro-shelters which were previously purchased by the city on our behalf in 2020. Those shelters will provide transitional shelter for up to eight adults.  

“The very rough timeline we are working toward is a June completion date, but we know that several factors could change that. We are hoping to partner with service groups in the community to finish out our outdoor garden space, complete a mural project on the building, and to support our guests as they transition into the new shelter community.”

The pallet shelter program is designed for those seeking to transition to permanent housing, while the warming shelter is set to house folks for only a night or two.

Key work planned for the modular unit, which is located at the city Public Works shops on McClaine Street, includes new interior walls for offices, bathrooms, a storage room with a janitorial supply closet, an entry room and a kitchenette. The structure also will be painted and feature new flooring, cabinets, countertops and kitchen appliances. An electrical system will be installed as well as fire sprinklers and a 230-foot chain link fence that will surround the warming facility and pallet shelters. Excavation and utility boring will be necessary for power and communication lines.

Travis Sperle, director of Public Works for the City of Silverton, was slightly less optimistic than White of Sheltering Silverton about the construction schedule.  

“I would estimate the project would be around September or October for full completion,” Sperle said.  

The Silverton City Council voted to authorize the spending of the $250,000 in ARPA funds at its Oct. 17 work session.