By Anne Holzman
Falcon Heights city leaders have postponed replacing the building at Community Park after bids for the project came in higher than expected.
The city had budgeted about $3.5 million to replace the building and parking lot and add or improve other amenities. That would have required some additional funding to bolster what the city has saved, but as of January it appeared feasible.
When construction firm Kraus Anderson reported in early June that costs would run over $5.5 million, with much of the increase due to the building, the City Council directed staff to reconsider the plan.
City Administrator Jack Linehan said the city’s options include renovating the existing park structure or paring back to a non-winterized outdoor pavilion with bathrooms. City officials previously considered renovating the existing building and decided that was not cost-effective. But now, they want to check those numbers again.
Linehan told the Bugle in July, “What’s going against us is there’s more demand—a lot of municipalities are building right now.”
Linehan said a lack of hoped-for assistance from the state was also a factor. The city has repeatedly sought state bonding funds, but the first attempt failed to make the cut and the Legislature has failed to pass bonding bills in recent years.
Linehan said he has applied twice for grants from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, also without success.
The city has set aside funds that would have covered most of the costs estimated in January for construction and updates but no new amenities.
Now, city officials must decide whether to try to raise the money for a new four-season building with meeting rooms, possibly by issuing bonds, or pare back their plans.
Linehan said he was content to postpone the project for a year in order to look at more options. He expects Kraus Anderson to return with some estimates for comparison in early fall, but that will be too late to start construction this year.
“We’re evaluating our options,” he said, “and making sure we’re staying within budget and serving the needs of the community.”
Anne Holzman is a Twin Cities freelance writer who covers Falcon Heights government news for the Bugle.
