As work progresses, photo updates are added in chronological order. Scroll ↓ down ↓ to see the latest!
Photo Credit: Jane T. Ahrens (unless otherwise noted)
The Fishers Island Freight building had an interesting beginning.
Completed June 21, 1906, Fort Wright’s Building #209 was one of the original buildings on Silver Eel Cove, ready to accept cargo from the U.S. Army supplying Fort Wright’s operation on Fishers Island.
According to the War Department’s Q.M.C. Form No. 117 it included these specifications:
• Designation of building: Mine Storage
• Capacity: 116,920 cu. ft.
• Total cost: $29,000.
• Material: Brick walls; Concrete foundation; Slate roof
• Total floor area above basement: 11,692 Sq. Ft.
• Size: 205’x30’ (no wings, no basement)
• Individual plant was heated with steam
In recent times Building#209 has served as the Fishers Island Ferry District’s freight building with adjacent spaces, mostly the 1st/main floor, rented to Island contractors.
As the housing issue on Fishers continues, Walsh Park’s board was looking for alternative possibilities and the Ferry District commissioners were looking for ‘best use of space’ for the 2nd floor. It became a perfect match in 2017 when ideas and conversations became a reality.
Walsh Park Ferry Building Project
And now for a new beginning for Building #209
The space July 7, 2017
(Click any image to see a larger version or view the gallery.)
After much planning with architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, fundraising by the Walsh Park board, and permitting through the Town of Southold, BD Remodeling & Restoration began the physical work in July 2019. The former Mine Storage facility will be transformed into a gracious home with 3 2-bedroom and 3 1-bedroom apartments. They will all face north to Connecticut from a common hallway on the south side of the building’s 2nd floor. Accessible by elevator and stairs, the plans take advantage of existing window openings and original building ceiling bracing which will most likely be left exposed wherever possible.
The space July 17, 2019
(Click any image to see a larger version or view the gallery.)
The roof removal August 1, 2019
(Click any image to see a larger version or view the gallery.)
Craig Schultz and crew dismantled the replacement roof and exposed the original concrete gutter system including the troughs and drain holes. These original gutters will be utilized again with trough linings and new drain pipes on the exterior.
The space August 15, 2019
(Click any image to see a larger version or view the gallery.)
With the completion of the interior ceiling insulation, and the buckled flooring removed, the utilities in the works, it was time for a photo update.
The space September 17, 2019
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Space Updates as of September 30, 2019: The Ferry Freight operations dropped ceiling starts, new ‘back’ stairs to apartments, skylights installed, roof completed.
Click this image below to see Ferry Freight/WP Building #209 30SEP19 album.
Space Updates as of November 30, 2019: The Ferry Freight operations dropped ceiling complete, new ‘back’ stairs to apartments are in, skylights framed out inside, apartment walls with bedrooms, closets, baths, washer/dryer spaces framed in, waiting on electrical inspection, firewalls and sound insulation begins.
Click this image below to see Ferry Freight/WP Building #209 30NOV19 album.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020: Time for a visit! All the walls are installed with taping almost complete. Utility equipment is in place and waiting on hook-up. The freight staging ceiling’s double sound and insulation is installed and tubs are all in.
(Click any image to see a larger version or view the gallery.)
By Tuesday, January 14, 2020, there was a ‘white-out’. Priming began on the ceiling and walls while the original wood beams require a special primer. Finish paint is soon to follow.
(Any dramatic haze in a photo is mostly due to the camera being too cold at the time.)
Visiting on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, there was a noticeable difference as the crew had moved to the finishes. Mark Richards pointed out the progress. Final coats of paint, floors had the 1st sanding, kitchen cabinets and cupboards are in place (with soft close doors), bathroom floor tiling was being laid that day, ceiling fans in each room, apartment utilities including hot water tanks are installed on the 1st floor. The apartment and exterior door frames have been delivered and are waiting to be installed with the baseboards and more.
Project Completed – almost:
September 9, 2020 – while the final cleaning is progressing and the COO is being waited on, this is a final pass at taking photos of the apartments before the new tenants move in the beginning of October 2020.
This gallery will take you from the ground floor, up the stairs to the 2nd floor landing and apartments beginning with #1 at the west end and moving east to #6.
(Photos being edited)
APARTMENT #1, 2 Bedrooms with 2 Baths
APARTMENT #2, 2 Bedrooms with 2 Baths
APARTMENT #3 & #4, 1 Bedroom with 1 Bath “Loft Style”
APARTMENT #5, 1 Bedroom with 1 Bath
APARTMENT #6, 2 Bedrooms with 2 Baths
A FEW VIEWS
FINISHES, APPLIANCES, FIXTURES, CLOSETS & CABINETS, WINDOWS, DOORS, AND SURFACES ARE THE SAME IN EACH APARTMENT
EXTERIOR
Photographer’s (recent) Favorites
Photo Credit: Jane T. Ahrens (unless otherwise noted)
