After an initial projection had the cost of the project, which included design, engineering and construction, at $3.3 million, Lake Oswego, Ore. Parks and Recreation Director Ivan Anderholm says the city received a new estimate that was much higher than that figure. Cost of the maintenance facility, for instance, came in twice as expensive as anticipated.
The city of Lake Oswego, Ore. is proposing to alter the project to transform its public golf course as costs inch higher than initial projections, the Portland Tribune reported.
The work will consist of renovating the driving range so that balls don’t fly out of the facility and to make it more level, reorient the golf course so that it has nine holes with both par 3s and 4s, instead of 18 par 3s, and build a new maintenance facility for equipment storage, the Tribune reported. The current maintenance location is where the future recreation and aquatic center parking lot will go.
After an initial projection had the cost of the project, which included design, engineering and construction, at $3.3 million, Parks and Recreation Director Ivan Anderholm said the city received a new estimate that was much higher than that figure, the Tribune reported.
Anderholm told the council during an Oct. 4 meeting that staff was shocked to find out the new cost estimates for the project—particularly for the maintenance facility, which came in twice as expensive as anticipated, the Tribune reported.
In turn, the City Council gave staff direction to bring back a proposal—which did not include the full development of the maintenance building but would prepare the site for development—that Anderholm indicated would be $4.2 million, the Tribune reported. The city will bring back a total maximum price for the council to consider at the Oct. 18 meeting.
Anderholm said staff investigated the projected cost and found that the price tag to build the golf course—just over $2.1 million—was in line with analogous golf course renovations, the Tribune reported. Staff identified similar findings for the $1 million-plus driving range.
The maintenance building, however, came in significantly higher than anticipated at $1.6 million for a metal building with a fence around it on asphalt, the Tribune reported. The city is considering having the contractor prepare the site for development, which would cost $188,000, while staff look at alternative options and reassess maintenance needs, Anderholm said.
“As we looked into that, we were able to identify some alternative delivery methods that would save substantial money,” Anderholm said. “I’m confident we will be able to come back with something on the maintenance facility that will be much more affordable than the $1.6 million.”
Anderholm added that the city’s contractor, Milroy Golf Systems, is worried about material costs rising if the city delays the project, the Tribune reported. Timing with the recreation and aquatic center development is another consideration.
“It’s important we get the course seeded as soon as possible, get grass growing with the anticipated construction schedule we’re looking at for the aquatic and recreation center,” Anderholm said.
If that takes place, Anderholm said that the golf course and the recreation and aquatic center can open at the same time: spring 2024, the Tribune reported. If not, the golf course opening would need to be delayed.
The Lake Oswego City Council seemed to approve the altered approach, the Tribune reported.
“Everything you have done has got us to the point where I feel comfortable moving this forward when we get to that point,” Councilor Jackie Manz said.
Council President John Wendland said he felt the city was still getting great value for the renovation and asked staff to make the course top-notch so that it draws people who would be willing to spend money at the course, the Tribune reported.
Anderholm said piping for the irrigation system, sprinkler heads and fuel costs may be reasons for the increase, as well as general inflation, the Tribune reported. He added that the contractor would have hired a subcontractor to build the maintenance facility — and thus wouldn’t be able to control costs as much.
Anderholm also noted that the city chose to renovate the golf course from 18 to nine holes in part to attract more experienced golfers due to the fact that the course will have three par 4s, the Tribune reported. The market for the existing course, he added, is largely limited to less experienced golfers and people who can’t hit the ball far. Unlike the current course, high school matches could be played at the new one.
The project is part of the 2019 parks bond approved by voters, the Tribune reported. The current course is closed.
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