I'll be the first one to admit to not being an expert on commercial construction, but it just seems logical to me that converting and existing structure could be done cheaper than errecting from scratch. Isnt much of the cost in a project involved in the underlying support structure. Utilities, parking, lighting, landscaping, etc. I would think that an existing bldg of that size could be effectively gutted, partitions put up to create individual rooms and put into use rather quickly and cheaply. The parking, A/C, electrical, water, sewer, kitchen, loading docks, and even athletic fields and landscaping are already there. The property is surrounded by fencing, has two available entrances, it just seems ideal to me. If one looks deeper, wouldnt the addnl available space open up loads of possibilities for consolidating other municipal facilities onto that property, thereby making other structures available for sale or alternate use. For example the senior citizens center, RTPD Juvenile Office, or the old BOE bldg in Hibernia or even moving the public library and allowing the expansion of the police dept and municipal offices into the existing library. Maybe creating a youth or civic center or township park. It just seems like there could be endless possibilities opened up. Now dont get me wrong. I'm just brainstorming here. I'm not advocating or supporting any specific changes, just floating ideas. Yes, we would lose the tax revenue, but maybe that could really be made up by reducing costs with the closing or selling off other properties. Just some thoughts.
Settembrino estimated conversion costs at around $125 per square foot and construction costs between $190 and $205 per square foot. Variables such as roof load would affect cost, he said. The state will reimburse up to 25 percent of construction and 40 percent of renovations.
It looks like the state kicks in extra money if we renovate (Green Pond Rd.) instead of building new (Mt. Hope or Fleetwood).
So adding all those new uses in addition to putting a school there would do the following:
- Increase traffic, from the school and all the peripherals that you suggest.
- Increase property taxes because the ratable would be lost.
- Increase property taxes again (to the tune of at least 14 million plus all the renovation costs).
So in your eyes it would be OK to snatch the property away from a church because the use you suggest wouldn't involve bring bible-thumpers with dark skin into your town?
I think they used to get away with moves like that in Communist Russia all the time (and still do in Red China), but this is the United States of America, One Nation, Under God, with LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL.
Christ Church will get her justice.
I feel bad for the sorry citizens that will end up paying the price in th form of re-imbursed legal fees. And not just about $350k as has been mentioned. It will be MUCH more than that. Just wait and see.
You have no idea what you're getting yourselves into.
Keep on dreaming CC spin-miester...I needed a good laugh this morning!
It is so over for CC that a blind man could see it. The proposed mega-resort will drag about the board (planning/ajustment) for a long time.
In the meantime, if you want to ask your exellent attorney whom attended the RT school board meeting last night, you will find out that the property will be condemed for a new school. A 4 month, due diligence study has been conducted, and will stand the light of day.
Agilent (let's not forget who owns property) will be negotiated with and compensated. RT needs space for our kids, and the LAW has been very clear on this issue - the right of emminent domain for the greater good of a Township is a slam dunk. You will not be left with a pot to **** in...
Its a shame that people like No Taxes only see what they want. Didnt I say in my original post that maybe the tax money could then be made up by consolidation and selling off other properties? CC doesnt own the property yet and I hope they never will. I think the only property snatching that was tried here was CC trying to snatch a large piece of RT without anyone knowing until VORT stepped in. My first choice is still having a tax paying, job producing, corporate client there, but as a second choice, a school for RT kids and/or other twp facilities is sure preferrable to a bunch of outsiders stepping in on a free ride. I dont want to pay more taxes either, but dont you think if they buy and build in Mt Hope or build from scratch in Fleetwood, your taxes arent going to go up as much or even MORE, and then you still lose the $630K if you let CC move in. Yeah that makes more sense.
The agilent site seems to have three advantages over the other two contenders.
1. cost of renovating is less than the cost of building new.
2. This site would have room both for ball fields and future expansion.
3. it seems to be the most centrally located of all the sites.
In addition, I seem to remember that the state will subsidize 40% of renovation costs vs. 25% of new construction.
It would be interesting to be able to review the cost numbers on the alternatives as that process moves along although I'm not sure if that's possible or how to request a copy of the calculations.
