Council authorizes bid advertisement for intergenerational center despite higher cost estimates

The Corte Madera Town Council authorized staff to advertise bids and potentially award a construction contract for an intergenerational center in the former market space at 195 Tamalpais Vista Boulevard, but the decision came after council members probed a widened budget estimate and voted 4‑1 to proceed.

Town Manager Adam Wolf and consultant Roslin Brandt presented a design that reuses much of the existing mechanical and electrical infrastructure while adding flexible interior spaces: a large activity room with movable walls, an art area with an art sink, a 3‑D printer room, a small meeting room, administrative and storage areas, and a patio facing Mount Tamalpais. The site includes dedicated parking with garage access.

Staff said an engineer’s estimate for tenant improvement construction is $360,000, plus a 10% construction contingency (approximately $396,000) and additional soft costs and furnishings. Earlier, council had budgeted roughly $200,000 for tenant improvements; staff reported the current full project total could approach roughly $400,000–$460,000 when soft costs, furniture and permit fees are included. The lease contains a $43,000 construction credit and three months free rent at lease commencement; Age Friendly Corte Madera has committed donations to help offset operating costs.

Council members pressed staff on the reasons for the increase, whether bid alternates or value‑engineering should be included, and whether the town should pause to solicit alternate materials or county matching funds. Consultant Roslin Brandt recommended inserting bid alternates so the council can choose tradeoffs without doing post‑bid value engineering that can be less effective.

At the motion to authorize the director of public works to advertise the bid and to award to the lowest responsible bidder up to the $360,000 engineer’s estimate, the council vote was recorded: Andrews — yes; Beckman — absent; Ravasio — yes; Vice Mayor Casissa — yes; Mayor Thomas — no. The motion carried. Staff expects to apply for permits and start construction following contractor selection; an optimistic schedule in staff materials estimated an October 2026 opening if permits and bidding proceed on the presented timeline.

Council members urged staff to bring back any significant cost increases and to consider requesting county or other grant support if bids exceed the engineer’s estimate. Several councilors also suggested allowing a few days for the project subcommittee and the design consultant to finalize alternates before the bid advertisement.