Development

Building Riverside’s Facilities Present and Future – A Phased Approach

RBC-Blue-Logo_Honoring-Past.jpg

Riverside’s aspirations for renovating and expanding our boathouse entail design, financing and permitting challenges that will take multiple years to realize. As we work on those plans, the aging of our 1912 boathouse continues and there are safety and operational concerns to be addressed now. Our current approach does not conflict with investment in our existing facility, which is expected to remain and be honored by what comes next.


Riverside Development

In 2012, the Riverside Board created the Development Committee, led by Lynn Osborn and Dick Garver. The Development team conducted a club wide survey and 95% of our membership indicated that facilities improvement was a high priority. Over the next six years, the development committee has created and revised conceptual priorities and drawings of possible plans and has begun sharing these ideas and seeking feedback from the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association, Cambridge Historic Commission, State Senators and Representatives, the Magazine Beach Partners, our college and high school collaborators and DCR. Key priorities include minimizing disruption of the park, expanding boat storage, improving spaces for community activities, providing public bathrooms and becoming ADA accessible.

In 2015, ice storms had pulled the porch and ramps away from the building. The solution was to support the ramps independently with their own pilings and to anchor the dock to pilings, so that dock movement is independent of the ramps. New pilings were also placed under the porch for stability.

In 2016, the Development Committee formed an Engineering Sub-Committee led by Board Member Neil Harrigan and Building and Grounds Committee chair Carson Burrington to define renovation projects and oversee their execution.


Replacing the Original (1912) Slab

In 2016, we began exploration of replacing the boathouse’s original slab floors, which were poured “on grade” with no foundational support. The river bank has subsided and the floors in the two upstream bays had collapsed to the point that they presented operational and safety concerns. Northeastern University had addressed the subsidence in the log bay in the ‘70s by raising the floor with asphalt, which added weight and caused further distortion.

Under the Engineering Committee’s direction, contractors carried out soil borings to identify the type of slab support system that would be required. Based on that information, we obtained design and cost estimates from multiple vendors.

In December 2017, the board signed a contract with Siena Construction and began the permitting process. Demolition started in February, 2018. Construction was delayed until March, due to delayed approvals. At that point, the entire Boathouse was emptied of boats, oars, racks and associated rowing equipment and 50 helical piles were set in place 40 feet down, followed by two feet of concrete. The slab was completed in April and celebrated with the fabulous slab party on April 21. After many iterations of rack configurations to preserve as many racks as possible and a significant upgrade of lighting, the boathouse reopened on May 4, just in time for Crusher Casey on May 6, 2018.

While the engineering team chaperoned this project, Neil marshaled its inception, bids and completion. It is remarkable to stand on level solid ground. The bunnies seem to have found alternate accommodations.

Breakdown of cost:

  • Demolition: $59,034

  • Earthwork: $45,152

  • Concrete: $67,585

  • Helical: $98,036

  • Carpentry: $25,000

  • Plumbing: $39,122

  • Electrical: $23,286

  • General Conditions, Project, Pre-construction,

  • Requirements: $67,785

  • Racks: $45,241

  • Permits: $1,534

  • Engineering: $21,688


Riverside Dock Replacement

Caro, Carson, Paul Martin, the Engineering Committee and the Board have been working for several years to investigate and design plans for the next-generation of docks for Riverside. Many hours of research (facilities visits, internet searches and word-of-mouth), photos, drawings, changes to drawings, teleconference calls, and prototyping occurred before the team settled on final designs and vendors. Caro led many of these efforts on the ground level, and approved final production plans, from concept to reality.

Renee Lanza headed up RBC’s permitting/regulatory efforts along with creating an RFP which captured our specs for the new dock, a scorecard for evaluating vendors, and set up a timeline. In April 2017, Renee and the Engineering team settled on a handful of reputable vendors to invite to respond to our RFP with proposals.

In January 2018, after conversations with vendors, review of existing prototypes and installations and subsequent deliberation, the Engineering Committee recommended that RBC pursue an aluminum-framed dock with composite surface decking. Through RBC member referrals (thanks Jim McGaffigan!), research, and the RFP proposal, they found an able partner in Row America and its manufacturing partner, Poralu Marine out of Montreal Canada. This program allowed RBC to utilize existing relationships with Eastern Seaboard Concrete Construction and GEI Consultants.

A partnership was struck between the three vendors and RBC to remove, demolish and replace our docks with Poralu’s state of the art system tailored to the sport of rowing. The deliverables were divided as follows:

Poralu Marine & Row America – Construction & replacement of dock and swing dock

Eastern Seaboard – Crane-removal, demolition, and disposal of existing docks, and complete environmental remediation of the site

GEI Consultants – Review of vendor proposals, preparation of project materials for conservation commission, onsite representation of RBC to the conservation commission

RBC received tentative project approval from the Cambridge Conservation Commission and DCR in February 2018. Final approval from the Conservation Commission and the DCR came on May 21st and the Conservation Commission inspection was completed on June 12th, 2018.

Carson, Caro, Neil and Evan developed logistics for readying the site for the 70-ton crane and dock sections that arrived from Canada. Our club members chipped in and spent several Saturdays clearing out, cleaning up, and improving the downstream construction site. The sequencing of events for demolition, removal and installation was a coordinated effort. Carson, Caro, Evan and program coaches worked earnestly together to modify rowing programs as needed to accommodate modified schedules that week.

Our communications plan for the membership included three town-hall style presentations and daily email updates for the membership. The old dock was closed for operation on Sunday evening, June 17 and the new dock opened for launching on Saturday, June 23. On time, on spec, and on budget.

We have asked a lot from our members this spring in terms of flexibility and disruptions to schedules. The timing of both dock and slab replacements in the same year was indeed a huge undertaking. However, the sheer momentum carried us to the finish line with few regrets, and RBC is all the better for it!

The geese were the first to arrive of course, but we have plans for them!

Breakdown of costs:

  • Demolition & removal of old dock: $35,250.00

  • New docks manufacturing and installation: $150,000.00

  • GEI engineering consultation & planning: $3,200.00

  • Permits: $400.00

The Riverside slab and dock replacement were paid for from operating expenses ($50k) the capital reserve ($200k) and from our capital campaign ($450k) which was started in 2012 and primarily funded by our Leadership Donors to whom we are overwhelmingly grateful listed below.


Riverside Leadership Donors 2012 – 2017

  • Kate Ackerman

  • Igor Belakovskiy

  • Patricia Belden and Kevin Kelly

  • George Conrades

  • Ernest Cook

  • Tina Vandersteel Cressotti and Matt Cressotti

  • Chris Daly

  • Mike Farry

  • Dick Garver

  • Lisa Kunze and Jeff Schafer

  • Thomas Lowe

  • Kevin and Satinder McDonnell

  • Todd and Jill C. Milne

  • Frank and Barbara O’Leary

  • Lynn Osborn

  • Jon J. Skillman

  • Sharon Sloan

  • Sarah and Robert White

Building Riverside’s Facilities Future—A Phased Approach

Riverside’s aspirations for renovating and expanding our boathouse entail design, financing and permitting challenges that will take multiple years to realize. As we work on those plans, the aging of our 1912 boathouse continues and there are safety and operational concerns to be addressed now. The good news is that the current approach does not conflict with investment in our existing facility. We formed an Engineering Committee led by Board Member Neil Harrigan and Building and Grounds Committee chair Carson Burrington to define the projects and oversee their execution.

New Docks

New Docks

RIVERSIDE DOCK REPLACEMENT

Caro, Carson, Paul Martin, the Engineering Committee and the Board have been working for several years to investigate and design plans for the next generation of docks for Riverside. Many hours of research, photos, drawings, changes to drawings, teleconference calls and prototyping occurred before the team settled on final designs and vendors. Caro led many of these efforts on the ground level and approved final production plans, from concept to reality.

Renee Lanza headed up RBC’s permitting/regulatory efforts along with creating an RFP which captured our specs for the new dock, a scorecard for evaluating vendors and set up a timeline. In April 2017, Renee and our team settled on a handful of reputable vendors to invite to respond to our RFP with proposals.

In January 2018, after several conversations with vendors, review of existing prototypes and installations and subsequent deliberation, the Engineering Committee recommended that RBC pursue an aluminum-framed dock with composite surface decking. Through RBC member referrals (thanks Jim McGaffigan!), research and the RFP proposal, they found an able partner in Row America and its manufacturing partner, Poralu Marine out of Montreal Canada. This program allowed RBC to also rely on existing relationships with Eastern Seaboard Concrete Construction and GEI Consultants.

dock-demolition.jpeg

A partnership was struck between the three vendors and RBC to remove, demolish and replace our docks with Poralu’s state of the art system tailored to the sport of rowing. Specifically, they divided out the deliverables as follows:

  • Poralu Marine & Row America – In-kind construction & replacement of dock and swing dock

  • Eastern Seaboard – Crane-removal, demolition and disposal of existing docks; complete environmental remediation of the site.

  • GEI Consultants – Review of vendor proposals, preparation of project materials for Conservation Commission, onsite representation of RBC to the Conservation Commission.

RBC received tentative project approval from the Cambridge Conservation Commission and DCR in February 2018. Final approval from the Conservation Commission and the DCR came on May 21 and the Conservation Commission inspection was completed on June 12, 2018.

Carson, Caro, Neil and Evan developed logistics for readying the site for the 70-ton crane and dock sections that arrived from Canada. Our club members chipped in and spent several Saturdays clearing out, cleaning up, and improving the downstream construction site. The sequencing of events for demolition, removal and installation was a coordinated effort. Carson, Caro, Evan and program coaches worked earnestly together to modify rowing programs as needed to accommodate modified schedules that week.

wide-angle-docks+ramps.jpeg

Our communications plan for the membership included three town-hall style presentations and daily email updates for the membership. The old dock was closed for operation on Sunday evening, June 17 and the new dock opened for launching on Saturday, June 23. On time, on spec, and on budget.

We have asked a lot from our members this spring in terms of flexibility and disruptions to schedules. The timing of both dock and slab replacements in the same year was indeed a huge undertaking. However, the sheer momentum of it all did carry us to the finish line with few regrets, and RBC is all the better for it!

The geese were the first to arrive of course, but we have plans for them too!


2014 Riverside Annual Stripes Gala

By: Rachel Pettis & Erin Roche

On the racecourse RBC is notorious for cleaning up, leaving competitors behind with striped oars merely a blur.  Off the water RBC cleans up just as well, showcased most recently at the Annual Stripes Gala.  JL and dry-fit were nowhere to be found at this smart occasion as Riverside members gathered at the Royal Sonesta for a night of festivity, celebration and purpose.

The evening began with socializing and a silent auction boasting baskets of goodies assembled by each of Riverside’s competitive programs.  Once all members had found their seats and the dinner courses were served, President Mike Farry took to the podium to introduce the evening’s speakers.

Liane Malcos Keister was first to address the crowd and gracefully recounted her trials and tribulations in her quest for a spot on the national team.  Liane’s recollection spoke to the tenacity, bravery and strength it takes to train at the elite level, and what a significant role Riverside played and continues to play in her life.

Following Liane, Miranda Paris touched upon her early experiences at RBC leading to a career path never considered after a medical diagnosis ruled out her personal competitive aspirations.  Rather than despairing Miranda found an alternative way to continue doing what she loves in the form of coaching.  From her very first role in assisting with the RBC HPG men to her current position as head coach of the Georgetown Varsity Women, Miranda’s passion for the sport is unwavering and she too thanks Riverside for its continuous support.

Dream Big, Work Hard, and Have Fun
Jim Hanley receiving RBC’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Jim Hanley receiving RBC’s Lifetime Achievement Award

In the wake of two equally resounding stories Mike Farry then summoned Jim Hanley to the floor to introduce the evening’s final speaker.  Before handing over the mic, Mike first revealed to Jim that something very special and unprecedented was about to occur.  The President proceeded to award Jim Hanley with the inaugural Riverside Lifetime Achievement Award for his continued leadership, support and love of RBC since 1972.  It was hard to resist the wave of emotion reverberating from Jim as he accepted the award.

After thanking the club Jim left quite the act to follow as he introduced Doug Clark.  Doug’s speech did not disappoint as he recounted his coaching years and emphasized the importance and application of hard work in rowing and in life.  Doug challenged the audience to discern the types of motivation that drive success and encouraged all to, “Dream Big, Work Hard, and Have Fun”.

As the messages of Liane, Miranda and Doug lingered around the room a clear desire for the continued support of RBC arose during the live auction and pledges that followed. Thank you to the 85 attendees, those who donated tickets, anyone who helped with one of the team baskets, all volunteers, everything donated to the auction, all who pledged or bought an auction item. By the Gala’s end $45,000 was raised to help sustain and grow the club that we all know and love.  Many thanks to all that took part in this wonderful occasion, greats things are certainly in store for 2015!