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Walking trail? Maybe later

New Port Richey agrees to delay parts of its new recreation complex to rein in the cost.

By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
Published January 11, 2006

NEW PORT RICHEY - The walking trail, shuffleboard courts and diving pool may have to wait.

Looking to rein in the ballooning costs of the city's new recreation and aquatic center, city officials agreed Tuesday night to postpone some of the amenities to bring the project's cost back down to $14-million.

"We should be shooting for what we can afford and add what we really want at a later date," City Council member Bob Langford said at the meeting of the Community Redevelopment Agency. Council members serve as the agency's board of directors.

City staffers will negotiate the specifics with contractor J. Kokolakis Construction, the lowest bidder, and bring a revised contract back to the redevelopment agency within the next few weeks.

Council members voiced frustration Tuesday night with the project's escalating costs. A year ago, the project was priced at $9.1-million. Last summer, architect Harper Aiken Partners Inc. estimated it would cost closer to $14-million.

Then the bids came in last month from two contractors: J. Kokolakis at $13.38-million and ACI Construction at $13.4-million. Add $2-million in "soft costs," such as furnishings and architectural fees, and the price tag was approaching $15.5-million.

Council members agreed Tuesday night to do as much as they could - within a $14-million budget. That could mean postponing the new diving facility, a blow to the diving teams at Gulf and Ridgewood high schools, unless city officials can work with the school district to find extra dollars now.

City Manager J. Scott Miller said he wants to start construction in March, with the hope of opening the new facility in April 2007. Residents would pay fees to use it.

[Last modified January 11, 2006, 00:41:19]