Construction cost estimates sought for Herman Center
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on September 20, 2017 5:50 AM
The Goldsboro City Council agreed to seek construction cost estimates for a new Herman Park Recreation Center that scales back the size of a previous building plan.
Scott Barnard, Goldsboro's parks and recreation director, presented to council a possible 42,000-square-foot building plan that includes a two-story, double gymnasium during its Monday meeting.
The council came to a consensus to move forward and seek construction cost estimates from HH Architecture.
The architectural firm presented larger-scale building proposals, ranging in price from $14.9 million to almost $17 million in July, following a public-input process that included desirable building features.
The cost of the project and concerns about a possible property tax hike led the council to step back from the project and regroup.
Barnard's building plan stems from recent council discussions that involve resizing the building to a more manageable cost, potentially somewhere between $8 million and $10 million.
The smaller building, presented by Barnard, includes a double gym, a multipurpose room, locker rooms and rooms for art, youth and adults and special populations. A small kitchen, space for a kiln, offices, equipment and storage are also part of the proposal.
Outdoor areas include grilling patios, picnic shelters, a bouldering wall, basketball and racquetball courts, fitness equipment and space in front of the Senior House for bocce ball, shuffle board, cornhole and horseshoes.
City officials recently applied for a $2 million Golden LEAF Foundation grant that would help with some of the cost of a new building. The grant would be used to temporarily convert the center gymnasium into a shelter during emergencies. A decision on the grant is expected in October.
Councilman Gene Aycock said the council should wait on making a decision until the Golden LEAF grants are finalized.
"I'd say hold off until we know something from them," Aycock said. "I think so much is depending on that $2 million dollars we may or may not get."
Mayor Chuck Allen suggested that the council seek the cost estimate from HH Architecture as a starting point before it seeks formal bids for construction drawings.
Barnard estimated that construction drawings could cost close to $500,000.
Mayor Pro Tem Bevan Foster, who said he is against a property tax increase, asked if the HH Architecture estimate could also include a cost estimate to add another gymnasium at the new W.A. Foster Recreation Center, which opened in 2016. The council agreed.
Scott Stevens, city manager, is uncertain what the cost will be to have HH Architecture provide the cost estimates to city leaders. The architectural firm was hired in the city in 2016 under a $39,500 contract to present preliminary designs and costs for a new Herman Park Recreation Center.