The gas leak was first reported in August, causing Con Edison to shut down gas service to the building. The leak is believed to have originated outside the mansion, near the kitchen area. Electricity and water have both been running at the mansion, but without the gas service there has been no heating, cooking or hot water for events at the facility.
After several months, work has begun at the park, according to Bishop Nowotnik, the confidential secretary to the Rye Town supervisor. All of the work within the park is expected to be completed by the end of the week, Nowotnik said. It is expected that by the end of next week the Con Ed gas service extension at Betsy Brown Road will have been finished, tested and gas service will be restored to the park.
The project has been delayed for months while town officials tried to work with Con Ed to determine the amount of piping that needed to be replaced. At several points along the way, town officials had to wait on Con Ed to apply for permits or approve specifications of the project. Back in September it was believed that 1,200 feet of piping would have to be replaced down to Ridge Street, which could have cost up to $100,000 and required extensive digging. Instead, Con Ed will extend their gas lines from Besty Brown Road in Rye Brook to the mansion, reducing the distance to about 675 feet of pipe. A small plastic pipe will be inserted into an existing pipe, eliminating most of the digging that would have been necessary for the project.
The town solicited bids for the project and the plastic piping will be completed Robison Plumbing for $9,837.
During the lack of heat, the mansion had to utilize high capacity ceramic heaters to keep the mansion warm for events, according to Nowotnik. Some people did cancel their events, but others were still held, and the electric heaters were able to keep the mansion at a comfortable temperature. Some heaters were also moved into the basement to prevent heating.
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