Cost for New Roxbury Park Community Center Nears $15.5M

The City Council agreed at Tuesday's study session to move forward with a plan to rebuild the Roxbury Park Community Center at an estimated cost of $15.38 million.

The firm RTK Architects elaborated on the design of the new building at the Oct. 2 meeting. In August the council unanimously approved “Site Study E,” a proposal from Councilwoman Lili Bosse that calls for the center to be built at the site of the existing facility, which will be torn down.

Under questioning from Bosse, Assistant Director of Community Services Nancy Hunt-Coffey said Tuesday that the council agreed in June to allot $14.859 million for the project under the city’s current fiscal year budget, which began July 1. She also said the council agreed in July to add another $1 million to the project. 

Neither Bosse nor Vice Mayor John Mirisch voted for those budget items.

Hunt-Coffee later said that staff has estimated total construction costs for the project to be $14,407,594, with an additional $985,056 in architectural fees and other costs.

“The total project costs estimated today, which I guarantee you will change over time, is …$15,375,650,” Hunt-Coffee said.

The city also spent $1.4 million on prior studies and plans for rebuilding the center. Bosse said that she believed that number should be included in the total cost of the project. City Manager Jeff Kolin said the $1.4 million was not being counted because it was approved and spent in the previous year’s budget.

Bosse told Patch that she is concerned about the project’s final price tag.

“I feel like the $1.4 million should be counted,” she said, noting that doing so would push the total cost for the community center to almost $16.8 million. The council rejected a proposed $16.8 million two-story community center last year for being too costly.

Bosse questioned the exact fees, she said, because she believes that city staff has been misleading in their communications with her about costs.

“The numbers kept changing,” Bosse told Patch.

Still, she is supporting the plan because it is a one-story building with the same footprint as the existing building.

“I believe the community supports this general plan,” she said.

The main components of the approved plan include: 

• Multipurpose room located at the south end of building
• Movable stage in multipurpose room
• Interior courtyard with entryway to outdoor seating area
• Drop-off area for a shuttle bus, as requested by council
• Keeping existing trees for shade, as well as open spaces
• Compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act and relevant California building codes

Activities that take place at the current Roxbury center will be temporarily moved to other facilities during construction, city staff said.

The Recreation and Parks Commission will now take the lead on construction plans, timing and outreach to various community groups, Mayor William Brien said at the conclusion of the presentation.

What do you think of the latest plans for the new Roxbury Park Community Center? Tell us in the comments section below.

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