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The city Parks Department is seeking a builder to resurrect a pavilion on the waterfront at Conference House Park. (Courtesy of city Parks Department)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The city Parks Department is seeking a builder to resurrect a pavilion on the waterfront at Conference House Park that was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.

After a series of delays, the project is finally a go. Pending a successful bid, the Parks Department said it expects to begin construction of the pavilion later this year.

"This is one of many city capital projects that has been a source of frustration for all us," said Borough President James Oddo, who allocated more than $1 million for the project.

"With that said, we know it's not all the city's fault since the state DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) required certain design changes, which delayed the project. ... It is great to now see light at the end of the tunnel and that construction could start this year. I am hopeful that there will be no issues in the bidding process and we can finally start moving ahead with this project, which means so much for Conference House Park," he added.

Once built, it will be the third time such a structure graced the Tottenville waterfront. The first pavilion, built in 1935, was razed by a fire in 1963. The second pavilion, erected in 2002, was heavily damaged by storms, and deemed unsafe in 2011. It was finally destroyed by Hurricane Sandy on Oct. 29, 2012.

The plans to replace the structure include a 4,200-square-foot pavilion to sit on raised pilings that meet the area's new flood plain elevations.

THE FUNDING POT

While $3.7 million has been allocated via Borough President James Oddo, the mayor's office and the city council, the Parks Department won't know the total cost of the project until developers submit bids, said a Parks spokesman.

The $1,075,000 -- $850,000 from former Councilman Vincent Ignizio and $150,000 from Oddo -- will be added to the $2.5 million pledged by then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg and $225,000 secured by Ignizio in 2013, for a total of $3,725,000.

Another $1 million, $500,000 from Oddo and $500,000 from Ignizio, will be used to upgrade the visitors center and either expand the park's Lenape Playground or build a second playground.

PAVILION HISTORY

The Tottenville Pavilion was first was erected in 1935 to honor Almer G. Russell, a community resident who was killed in the battle of Meuse-Argonne in France during World War I.

For nearly 30 years, the white-washed wood pavilion served as Staten Island's "front porch" - a place to catch a cool breeze in the summer, watch sailboat races in the bay or listen to borough bands play in times of war.

After years of neglect, the crumbling structure succumbed to fire and was razed in 1963. The structure was re-built in 2002 as part of a $14 million plan to revitalize the historic 225-acre Conference House Park.

However, in 2011 it was deemed unsafe and closed to the public.

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