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Finance committee pauses plan to convert 353 Cumberland Ave into family shelter after $14M estimate
Summary
Staff told the Finance Committee the estimated cost to convert 353 Cumberland Ave into a family shelter is about $14 million, with $7–8 million for unavoidable HVAC, electrical and plumbing work; the committee recommended more study and referred the matter back to other committees rather than bond now.
City Council Finance Committee Chair April Fournier and staff on Thursday debated whether to move forward with bonding to convert 353 Cumberland Avenue into a family shelter after staff presented an updated capital-cost estimate of about $14,000,000.
Dina, a staff presenter, told the committee that the conversion from commercial office space to an emergency shelter requires system-wide upgrades: "the 3 systems that would be the most expensive to improve are HVAC, electric, and plumbing," and those improvements alone account for roughly "7 to $8,000,000," about half of the total estimate. She said smaller items such as a playground (estimated at $250,000–$300,000) or operating only one floor instead of two would yield at most modest savings and would not materially reduce the overall price tag.
Council members pressed for options and alternatives. Chair April Fournier said she appreciated staff work but was not ready to support bonding now, noting a declining shelter census and the need to explore partnerships and other sites. "I still don't feel like it's ready for us to move forward," Fournier said, and proposed sending further study to the HEDC and HHS committees to consider the property's highest and best uses and other family-shelter options.
Councilor Pelletier and Councilor Grant echoed reservations about the timing and the magnitude of the upfront cost. Finance director O'Connell warned that tax-exempt bond rules limit private use of financed properties and said redeeming the existing bonds for the building would be a simpler path if the city chose to sell the property.
The committee coalesced around returning the matter to committee for additional analysis rather than authorizing bonding this year. Staff said they would bring the item back to the appropriate committee(s) for further recommendation and work with council leadership on next steps.
