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Hollowell senior center estimate rises to $7.2M; committee, administration to review cost reductions
Summary
Design-development costs for the Hollowell senior center have risen to $7.2 million, about $1.2 million more than earlier estimates; the multigenerational building committee and administration plan a near-term review of scope reductions and grants to bring the project back within budget.
Committee members and councilors discussed a revised cost estimate for the Hollowell site on Sept. 2. The project’s design-development estimate now stands at $7.2 million, an increase of roughly $1.2 million from the December 2023 master-plan figure, the committee said.
Committee representatives said they have asked the architect to produce a detailed cost‑breakdown and a list of “add‑alternates” and scope reductions. Proposed reductions suggested in the meeting included removing a basketball court, deleting a CMU veneer wall base, removing two small program rooms (about 782 square feet total), eliminating an operable partition in the multipurpose room, cutting kitchen options, and scaling back audio‑visual and sound systems. The committee estimated those cuts could save roughly $347,000.
“We wanted to provide this information to you folks so you could digest it, review it,” a committee speaker said, noting a joint meeting with the council had been proposed for Sept. 18 to review the revised cost estimate and design documents.
Councilors and administration staff said they will run another detailed review with the town’s planning and capital teams to identify further cost reductions and prioritize elements. The town administrator and planning director offered to examine the design-development documents and return in two weeks with recommendations for scope, phasing and capital adjustments.
Funding context: The committee reported $4 million in grant funding for construction and $1 million for recreation; the committee continues to pursue further grants, including a $1.5 million request routed through a U.S. senator’s office and other federal and state opportunities.
Why it matters: The committee and council have repeatedly discussed site alternatives and program scope. At current estimates, the project exceeds the town’s committed grant funding and would require local reserves or additional grants.
What's next: Administration staff will review designs and budgets, report back to the committee and council within about two weeks, and the council will decide whether to advance the project into construction documents after that review.
