HUDSON, OH (October 7, 2019) – To correct misinformation out in the public, there were no cost “overruns” for the purchase and renovation of the former PASCO building for use as a City Hall. The renovations came in within the budget, with more than 5% of the 10% contingency remaining.
What people are referring to is the fact that the first bids for the project came in more than 10% over the initial engineer’s estimate. Why did this happen? Across Ohio and the nation, contractors were experiencing a shortage of skilled trade labor and contractors were already booked with jobs, which significantly drove up the cost of construction. The City rebid the project, and the costs came in higher. When examining similar projects being bid by other communities in Ohio at the time, those bids also came in higher than their engineer’s estimate as well. The City was not the only city impacted by higher labor costs.
Renovations necessary for the building included accessibility improvements required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including an accessible ramp in the front of the building and interior ADA accessible alterations. Other renovations involved reconfiguring and renovating the lower level for the community rooms that would be used by citizens, LED lighting, electrical work, and a backup generator, among other items.
Even with the bids coming in higher than estimated, the total cost for the purchase and renovation is less than the cost of building a new, smaller facility on less acreage.
In 2014, the City contracted with G.M Remboski Architects, Inc. to review the City’s space needs and estimate the cost for constructing a new facility to consolidate the City’s leased space into one location. The chart below includes the study’s determination of space needs and cost estimates for new construction, compared to the cost to purchase and renovate the PASCO building.
| Land Cost | Build Cost | Renovation Cost | Size | Amenities | Total Cost |
|---|
Purchase Land & Build City Hall | $3 million (estimate) | $6 - $9 million (estimate) | NA | 19,000 sf | Offices only. No space for community rooms or use. | $9 - $12 million |
Purchase & Renovate PASCO | $3.5 million (building & land) | NA | $2.5 million (renovations) $297,000* (items yet to be approved) | 33,000 sf | Offices, community rooms, auditorium. 20 acres for possible other uses. | $6.3 million |
The additional $297,000 (see above chart) in the chart above for renovations to the former PASCO building included a security system; Wi-Fi and battery backup for City offices; an audio/visual system, TVs, and control systems for the community meeting rooms; and moving expenses. The City kept costs down by producing signs in-house and having City staff perform the computer wiring and hardware installation, saving $175,000. The $400,000 estimated for new furniture was eliminated by using the existing furniture in the new building.
The renovation plans included five community rooms on the lower level of the new City Hall. There is an auditorium space that seats 50, a small 20-seat meeting room, and a large room that seats approximately 204 (in auditorium-style seating). The larger room can be partitioned into 3 smaller rooms, each holding approximately 68 in auditorium-style seating. If tables are used in these rooms, the seating capacity will be less. These rooms would be made available to the community. For more information about the new City Hall, visit https://www.hudson.oh.us/995/New-City-Hall.
