PORT TOWNSEND — While construction workers are pushing the City Hall renovation project forward on schedule, the City Council is preparing to deal with its escalating costs and how to pay for it.
The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 6 to discuss the city’s financial options to bridge a more than $1 million deficit created by the ambitious project to restore the 1892 building at Water and Madison streets.
Initially approved as a $5.4 million project last year, the renovation of the historic City Hall building and construction of an 11,700-square-foot annex started with a projected $750,000 deficit.
But now the project could cost the city as much as $6.1 million, said City Manager David Timmons, which would increase the financing shortfall to about $1.5 million.
Unforeseen problems
Additional problems, not included in the original contract, have increased the price, he said.
These include deteriorated mortar on City Hall’s facade wall and the building’s roof brickwork, which is permeated by salt.
To deal with these and other smaller restoration problems, the City Council approved spending an additional $285,000 during its Monday meeting.
Council members Geoff Masci, Frank Benskin and Laurie Medlicott opposed the move.
At the Sept. 6 meeting, Timmons plans to ask the council to spend an additional $436,000 to improve the building’s east facade and surrounding streets.
