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Aberdeen Woods renovation may keep neighbors awake

By J. FRANK LYNCH
jflynch@theCitizenNews.com

Owners of the Aberdeen Woods Conference Center are aware a huge renovation project now under way might disturb nearby homeowners, so they’ve taken unprecedented steps to alert Peachtree City officials and neighbors about the work.

They’ve even set up a 24-hour hotline for residents to file noise complaints, which will be answered by the project foreman.

“The foreman will have the authority to shut down work immediately if we get any of those calls,” said Glenn Wallberg, president of sales and service training for the Bitney Bowes Corp. which owns the conference center.

Wallberg explained the complications of the renovation work to members of the Peachtree City Council last week.

Two wings that house the kitchen, dining hall and guest rooms have already been renovated, he said, but they are in the parts of the building that sit further away from nearby homes and apartments.

Because Aberdeen Woods will continue to host meetings and conferences throughout the renovation period, most of the heavy work required to update the conference wing of the facility is taking place at night, Wallberg said.

"It’s absolutely crucial that we stay in business through this period,” he said. “The conference center itself is the engine that drives the rest of the center. It’s critical we remain open through phase three of the project.”

Aberdeen Woods employs about 200 people, Wallberg said, who would otherwise be out of work if the facility shut down temporarily.

Construction workers will be on the site from 6 p.m. to about 3 a.m. five nights a week through the middle of January, replacing the building’s siding exterior and putting on a new roof. The work will require giant spotlights powered by generators.

Because business is slow during the holidays, some of the work might be done in the daytime in late December and early January.

Wallberg said Aberdeen Woods sent letters to more than 90 area residents inviting them to an informational meeting last week, but only four showed up. Of those, none said they had been bothered by the noise so far.

In addition to setting up the hotline number, Wallberg said Aberdeen Woods would be willing to put up neighbors for the night in one of the facility’s guest rooms if the noise got too loud. The guest rooms are away from the construction site and shouldn’t be affected, he said.

Councilman Steve Rapson praised Wallberg for his efforts.

“You’re doing everything right, exactly what a good neighbor would do,” he said.

Councilman Stuart Kourajian coccurred and wish Aberdeen Woods good weather through the duration.

Mayor Steve Brown pointed out that the council wasn’t required to take any action, “But we do appreciate you being here and telling us about it.”

The work has already begun, Wallberg said.