The estimated cost to demolish and rebuild is about $21 million; estimated cost to renovate is $20 million. Owing to the Critical Areas Ordinance, the new building will move 20-30 feet away from the river with possible impacts to the green house.
The Parks and Recreation Director Carrie Hite and Project engineer Eric Dawson updated Council on the status of the Senior Center during their December 3rd Regular meeting. In August, two stucco panels near the loading dock fell off (fortunately no one was hurt) and serious dry rot was found throughout the plywood of the exterior walls. Though the roof is about 30 years old it was in satisfactory condition. Owing to dangerous conditions, the Center was immediately closed on September 9th. Ms. Hite said many of the Center's activities were re-located to 1) City Hall (Bytes Cafe and the conference rooms, 2) Marymoor Village, Old Redmond School House, 3) Grasslawn Arts Center and other places.
In response to Councilmember Jeralee Andrson's timeline question, Hite said it's estimated the Center will re-open in 2.5 years if renovated and 3 years if demolished and rebuilt. For sustainability Jaralee recommended the waste be recycled.
Ms. Hite suggested an opportunity to expand to 4-stories was possible -- for work force housing, affordable housing, an urban school, etc. Councilmember Hank Myers said he was by no means in favor of an expansion. He insisted on rebuilding ASAP; the audience clapped. It seemed a salute, with parting thanks. (Hank lost to Varisha Khan in the general election by 46 votes; this was one of his last council meetings.) Hank asked the City to do preventative maintenance on all their buildings on a regular basis, just as people do with their cars.
Councilmember Steve Fields agreed with Hank. He noted black mold was regularly bleached out of the green house.and had anecdotal evidence someone pushed their hand through one of the walls. He recommended anecdotal feedback be a part of the preventative maintenance program. Councilmember Tanika Padhye asked if the public engagement process would be thorough and fast-tracked. Ms. Hite suggested a few Public meetings would probably be sufficient.
Council President and Mayor-elect Angela Birney was "encouraged that to rebuild or to fix is about the same, so at least that doesn't seem to be a big task to go one way or the other." She said over the years she learned a lot about what improvements Seniors wanted in their Center. Angela looked forward to establishing partnerships. She was "a little sad about the 2-3 years."
Vice President Councilmember David Carson said it was "a chance for amenities to be added." He was not for renovating or remodeling.
Hank Myers calculated the city already had the funds to re-build saying $15 million was authorized for Senior Center improvements in November of 2018. (Unfortunately, the improvements weren't done until it was too late.) Hank also noted the city was sitting on $6 million of one-time money from the 2017 -2018 budget. Thus, with the $15 million, there's money in the budget to re-build. Hank received another clap. He was one of my favorite Councilmembers.
Reported by Bob Yoder
12/4/2019
