Orchard Beach SP TSB Evaluation_18Jul2023.pdf

Department of Natural Resources Parks & Recreation Division

Orchard Beach State Park

Manistee, Michigan

Toilet-Shower Building Evaluation

Prepared by: Sanders & Czapski Associates, PLLC, Marquette, Michigan Date: July 18, 2023 File No.: 751/16232.GAG

Sanders & Czapski Associates conducted an on-site evaluation in October 2021 of this important historic park building constructed of large stones and timbers that match other park buildings. The purpose of this evaluation was to determine possible uses including restoration and continued use as a bathroom building, or perhaps repurposing for another use.

Photo 1: Front building elevation and side entry to the Men’s Bathroom.

The building, which was constructed in the early 1940s, is in reasonably good condition. A new wood shingle roof was installed in 2018, when the historic Pavilion structure was reroofed. The Toilet-Shower Building is 24 ft. x 44 ft. in size, or 1,056 sq. ft. and it is constructed into a small hill at the edge of the state park. There are six small, private shower rooms, a Women’s Bathroom with four lavatories and five water closets and a Men’s Bathroom with four lavatories, three water closets and three urinals. There is also a small mechanical room and pipe chase. Because of the building’s placement on a hill, the floor in both Men’s and Women’s Bathrooms is split with the water closets and urinals on a level 24” above the floor level where the lavatories are located. The building does not meet barrier-free requirements for accessibility. Some material was observed in the mechanical room that is possibly asbestos. A hazardous material study is recommended.

Photo 2: Front building elevation showing entry doors to the private, unisex, shower compartments.

Photo 3: Side elevation and entry to the Women’s Bathroom.

Photo 4: Lavatories in Men’s Bathroom and stair access to the upper floor area with water closets/urinals.

Photo 5: Stairs leading up to upper floor level with water closets in the Women’s Bathroom.

Orchard Beach State Park is considering constructing a new Toilet-Shower Building and is evaluating the restoration or re-use of this historic building. Based on our inspection and analysis, it is our opinion that renovating this building to provide barrier-free accessibility would be very difficult, primarily due to the split floor level in the two bathrooms.

Photo 6: South elevation of the building which is outside of the fenced park boundary.

Our recommendations for this building are:

Option #1: Renovate the building for continued use as a toilet-shower building.

Under this option the building would receive general renovations and upgrades to the building interior and plumbing fixtures. Barrier-free accessibility, however, would not be possible and barrier-free bathroom accommodations would have to be provided in another building.

Option #2: Repurpose the building for use as two small cabins.

Under this option all plumbing fixtures would be removed and the building would be subdivided and renovated for use as two small cabins. The required plumbing fixtures serving the campground would have to be provided in a new building.

Option #3: Renovate the building for continued use as a toilet-shower building; replace single occupant shower rooms with two family bathrooms with showers.

Under this option the existing split level Men’s and Women’s Bathrooms would remain and be upgraded. These bathrooms would not be barrier-free accessible. Five of the small shower rooms would be removed and renovated into two barrier-free accessible Family Bathrooms with showers. Additional showers, as required, would be provided in other buildings.

END