Public bathrooms

KENT — When new owners purchased the Kent Village Barns  in the town’s main shopping area, one of the first (of many) changes they made was to shut down the restroom there that had been open to the public for many years.

The town stepped in to build its own facility and now, after several years of efforts to find and purchase a property and then to get a plan drawn up and approved by the state, work is finally set to begin.

The building has been designed as a welcome center for the town, with restrooms in it. It will be open mainly during the day and mainly during the summer months.

The center was designed by Kent resident (and architect) John Milnes Baker (who also put together the new “Kent Trails Guide”).

Seven companies have expressed interest in bidding on the project.  The bids are due Sept. 21. The building is expected to be finished before next summer.