St. Catharines council tackles arts centre budget overrun
Siobhan Morris, 610 CKTB News
8/27/2012
It's the 10-million dollar question---how to get St. Catharines' performing arts centre back on budget.
City council will attack the problem Monday night.
Councillor Jeff Burch says there are many things to consider after bids for the project came in well over what the city planned to spend.
Even the lowest initial bid is $10-million too high. The city has pegged the build at around $42-million. But the bids from pre-qualified firms range from $52.5-million-$59.9-million.
Burch says the city has to keep in mind its commitments to Brock University which will use the centre for their performing arts program.
Scaling the theatre complex way back may not be the answer. Burch says the city has to be careful not to cut into potential revenues.
There may be savings in the arts centre's finishing touches. After 610 CKTB's Tom McConnell suggested vinyl siding for the venue's exterior, Burch said "you gotta look at everything".
Burch doesn't think the oversbudget bids on the performing arts centre put the city's planned new arena at risk. The city plans to spend no more than $45-million on building the "spectator facility".