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City staff: community center designs nearly complete as funding remains uncertain
Summary
Acting city manager and architect reported 100% design development documents for a proposed community center; officials said construction costs have risen and funding sources remain uncertain, but plans will be presented to council and drawings will belong to the city.
Acting City Manager Shemansky and architect Beverly Hannah told Harper Woods City Council that design work for the proposed Salter Park community center is nearing completion but that the project’s final financing is not yet guaranteed.
Beverly Hannah, the lead architect from Hannah Architects, told council the design team would have 100% design development documents ready and offered to present the concepts to council as soon as they request a presentation. “We would love to come to present the concepts with you,” Hannah said, adding the firm had planned for the ability to phase the project if cost-savings were required.
Council members asked when the community would have opportunities for input. Acting City Manager Shemansky said designs would be shown at a council meeting after the design phase is complete; he clarified that the initial presentation was not intended as a public-engagement workshop but would display the proposed designs.
Officials told the council the original project estimate had risen substantially, with Shemansky saying construction pricing pressures—tariffs and inflation—had driven cost increases and that the project’s cost had “gone up almost threefold.” Shemansky said staff are negotiating extensions and working with state and other funding partners in hopes of securing grants and other financing; however, he said there was currently “no guarantee on monies.”
Council members asked whether, if outside funding failed, the city would still own designs prepared to date. Hannah said the construction documents would belong to the City of Harper Woods once paid for and completed: “Whenever we're done those drawings definitely belong to the city of Harper Woods, not us.” She also said the team was planning the project to be phased to allow construction of usable spaces if full funding could not be assembled.
Council members requested a presentation to the full council when the design documents are ready, and staff said they would schedule that presentation and provide more detail about community engagement and the project budget during upcoming meetings.
No formal council action was taken at this agenda item; council members directed staff to bring design presentations forward when they are ready.
