Renovation of a clubhouse / community center in Ashland, Oregon. Completed plans call for the renovation of a 3,642-square-foot, one-story above grade clubhouse / community center.

https://ashland.news/contract-approved-for-pioneer-hall-and-community-center-rehabilitation/ A $1.7 million contract to revitalize and improve both Pioneer Hall and the city’s Community Center was approved on a 4-1 vote at Tuesday evening’s council meeting. Public Works Director Scott Fleury explained the contract before council included both buildings and was designed to be a “menu” of options. Councilors could choose a baseline bid of $1 million addressing only structural issues and minimum Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements, or add on an additional roughly $450,000 of upgrades. The upgrades included a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, expanded ADA accessibility, upgrades to Pioneer Hall’s kitchen and cosmetic “fit and finishes.” The package also included a $250,000 allowance for any issues that may come up during construction. Councilor Gina DuQuenne voted in opposition while councilors Jeff Dahle, Paula Hyatt, Bob Kaplan and Eric Hansen voted in favor. Councilor Dylan Bloom was absent from the meeting. “My hope is that this Community Center and Pioneer Hall, once the doors open, it’s there for everyone in the community and not a select few. … The doors could have been open three years ago, I’m going to abstain myself from this vote,” DuQuenne said. Mayor Tonya Graham asked City Attorney Doug McGeary if a councilor can abstain from a vote without a conflict of interest. McGeary stated she could but her fellow councilors would have to take a vote to approve the abstention, at which point DuQuenne chose to vote no for simplicity’s sake. DuQuenne asked why the project cost so much more than the $350,000 anticipated in 2021 and why the final construction plans did not align with the masterplan created by an ad hoc committee focused on the historic buildings. Fleury answered that engineers take liability for the structural integrity of the buildings they work on, and when the project was sent out for bid as designed by the committee no bids were submitted. ZCS Engineering responded to a second bid but would only take the project if they could amend the plans. Outlier Construction submitted the contract for construction up for a vote Tuesday. Increases in construction costs, labor costs, the city’s need for contractors and engineers to assume more liability and the nature of building restoration are all cost drivers, he said. “A renovation of an existing facility is more costly than building a new facility,” he said. Construction is expected to begin by July or August, depending on when contracts are finalized. The work is expected to be complete by early 2025, Fleury said. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ The general character of the work for this Project includes supplying all labor, equipment, and materials necessary to perform the following major work items near or at 59 & 73 Winburn Way in Ashland, Oregon Acquisition of permits and issuance of all required notifications. Note that the City of Ashland will initiate and manage the planning approval process, however it will remain Contractors responsibility to obtain building permits for the Project. Structural upgrades per plan detail. MEP upgrades per plan detail. Interior/exterior upgrades as specified. ADA improvements per plan detail. Hazardous material abatement. All other work described in the specifications and drawings. Community Center and Pioneer Hall Rehabilitation The general character of the work for this Project includes supplying all labor, equipment, and materials necessary to perform the following major work items near or at 59 & 73 Winburn Way in Ashland, Oregon: Acquisition of permits and issuance of all required notifications. Note that the City of Ashland will initiate and manage the planning approval process, however it will remain Contractor's responsibility to obtain building permits for the Project. If the total amount of the contract to be awarded will exceed $100,000, the award of the contract must be approved by the Local Contract Review Board. A contract for the work will be awarded or Bids may be rejected, separately or entirely, within thirty (30) days after Bid opening. The City may cancel this procurement or reject any and all Bids in accordance with ORS 279B.100.