Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Center Rebuild topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Beaver City staff to pursue demolition and rebuild options for city center after structural review
Summary
An engineering review found substantial structural and seismic retrofit costs for the Belknap (city center) building; councilors leaned toward demolition and rebuilding a single-level city center, directed staff to meet with the insurer and pursue potential CIB grant timing and architect services.
Beaver City Council on March 24 heard a structural assessment of the city center (Belknap School building) and directed staff to pursue options that include demolishing the hazardous portions and planning a single-level replacement rather than costly seismic retrofit.
Kyle Blacker, who led the site walk-through and assessment, told councilors the building contains multiple types of masonry and construction approaches that would make a seismic retrofit and full rehabilitation expensive. Blacker cited the 2021 International Existing Building Code and said if a project replaces more than 50% of certain structural elements the building must be brought up to modern seismic standards — a requirement that drives much of the retrofit cost. He also said older sewer, piping and other infrastructure in the building would require replacement if the facility returned to active use.
After the assessment, council members discussed three basic options: tear down and do nothing, demolish and build a new facility, or attempt a full retrofit. Several councilors advised against preparing a full-cost financial plan for keeping the existing structure because they judged the retrofit option likely to be infeasible. Councilors and staff discussed salvaging facade or historically significant elements for reuse as part of a new project.
City staff reported the insurer has already indicated an initial payout of roughly $1.4 million related to the loss, less cleanup costs, which could leave approximately $1.0 million available pending final adjustments. Council discussed whether building back a new city center could increase the insurance recovery if the city documents that it will rebuild. Staff recommended pursuing conversations with the insurer to determine how the claim would be adjudicated if the city demolishes and builds back a single-level city center; councilors agreed.
Council directed staff to: schedule a meeting with the insurance company to discuss demolition-and-rebuild options, retain architects/engineers to prepare options and budgets that could be incorporated into the insurance/bid process, pursue Community Impact Board (CIB) grant timing (the council is tentatively slotted for a February 2026 county rotation but may be able to apply in October 2025 depending on a county swap), and consider concentrating recreation facilities at the 600 North parcel rather than rebuilding recreation at the city center site.
Council members said they favored a single-level replacement to reduce ADA and long-term maintenance costs rather than trying to retrofit multiple stories. Staff will return with cost estimates, RFQ/RFP language for architects and engineers, and an updated insurance coordination plan.
