Park District Aims To Curtail Rising Glenview Ice Center Costs

GLENVIEW, IL — With projected costs for the renovation of the Glenview Ice Center trending nearly $2 million over budget, park district staff have been looking for ways to cut costs without impairing facility's offerings while adhering to an aggressive project timeline, commissioners were told last month.

The project is being funded through a $17 million referendum bond approved in March 2018, a $10 million alternative revenue bond, district funds and donations.

The total amount budgeted is $29.43 million but the estimated cost had risen to $31.36 million, according to draft minutes from the Feb. 28 meeting of the park district board.

That budget includes money for unforeseen costs, with $900,000 set aside for design, $1.2 million for construction overages and $220,000 in owner's contingency, according to Glenview Park District Executive Director Michael McCarty. He said staff were feeling good with where the numbers stood but exploring ways to reduce overages without needing to tap into the contingency funding.

Jerry Aulisio of AT Group, consultants for the district, said the project has trended over budget as a function of design and with expanded plans for things like more food service, according to the minutes. He said if all the recommended adjustments to the plans were approved by the board, the project would be less than $410,000 over budget.

Some of the cost savings measures discussed included skipping the radiant heating for rink seating, which most rinks do not have and which would save $30,000, saving $300,000 by negotiating with the village to use a light duty storm trap on the lot instead of a heavy duty one and saving $383,855 by not using intumescent paint, according to the minutes.

The project also includes a land swap with the village and an easement agreement with the high school district, the new entrance off of Hospital Drive and an easement with NorthShore University HealthSystem, according to Aulisio. He said permits with the village and county agencies could potentially delay the start of construction.

Glenview trustees will review the park district's plans on Tuesday, with an opportunity for final approval April 5. After that a building permit may be issued, according to village staff. On April 9, the third bid package will be released, with park board approval of the bids in May, according to the minutes. Park district staff hope to begin construction in the spring and open in the fall of 2020.

Construction is scheduled to last 15 months and include the full shutdown of the facility during the summer of 2019. The Glenview Stars Hockey Association has also pledged to pay $1 million over 10 years, Pioneer Press reported.

The park district referendum was approved with 64 percent of the vote in March 2018 after a citizens' task force reduced the size of the bond, which also funded some improvements at The Grove and Sleepy Hollow Park, from $24 million to $17 million.

Update: At a March 21 meeting, the park district board approved an intergovernmental agreement with the village of Glenview. Based on changes approved in February, the project is currently estimated at $409,000 over budget, not counting the contingency funding, with more cost-saving measures to be considered, according to district staff. If the project eventually comes in under budget, staff said, the alternates being cut from the plans could be returned. The Glenview village board has given first consideration to redevelopment plans and may provide final approval at its April 5 meeting, allowing building permits to be issued and construction to begin.