Hussey Gay Bell (HGB) is the Architectural and Engineering (A&E) firm hired to construct a 600-seat, three-story addition to Chamblee Charter High School (CCHS). This week they came out with a preliminary report. No way around it, this project is going way over budget.
Chamblee Charter High School – Preliminary Report – January 24, 2019
2018-10 CCHS proposed addition schemes
1/30 CAC Presentation
Traffic Impact Study
PARKING
If the building additions at CCHS happen, it doesn’t look like there will be any additional parking.
The last Hussey Gay Bell report provided two options: 1) Buy adjacent land or 2) Build a parking garage where the field is and put a field on top of the parking garage.
In this latest report, HGB noted the following:
1. The Original CCHS Feasibility Study (that we based our vote off of) proposed turning the existing parking lot into a multi level parking garage. HGB notes an existing below-grade storm water retention structure under the parking lot. HGB is “concerned that the impact of relocating this structure and associated costs may not be accommodated by the existing SCL of $17.2 million and we do not consider this a viable option.”
2. HGB has confirmed that the city ordinances will not allow for the proposed 116 parking spaces in front of the school along Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.
3. Given the lack of parking spaces along Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, the parking garage where the field is will have to be even larger than anticipated. I don’t see how we can stay under budget and put a field on top of a parking garage.
4. I don’t see any mention of buying land adjacent to the school, so I guess that’s out. The money to purchase land was never in the budget anyway.
Escalating construction costs
The Stated Cost Limitation (SCL) for the project is $17,232,000.00. Escalating construction costs and their impact on the SCL, “we anticipate costs will exceed the SCL.” says HGB.
Construction Advisory Committee
Dear CCHS Community,
Please attend the Construction Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting tomorrow, January 30, 2019 at 6pm in the CCHS auditorium.
The Preliminary Architect Report for the 600 seat addition to Chamblee Charter High School is now posted on the CCHS Governing Board website along with drawings. The date of the report is listed as October 24, 2018 with an amendment dated January 24, 2019.
The links are below:
Plans: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxjaGFtYmxlZWNoYXJ0ZXJnYnxneDoxODMwODA5Mjc0ODBkZjI3
Architect’s Report: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxjaGFtYmxlZWNoYXJ0ZXJnYnxneDo0MjdjMDdiYjkyMTkxMWUz
In a nutshell, the 600 seat addition will be located near the corner of Chamblee-Dunwoody Road and Mendenhall Street. A parking deck will be built where the practice field is and an elevated turfed practice field will be built above it. The report identifies items that may give concern about staying within the budget. These may be ordinary concerns common at this stage of design, or not.
If possible, please share these documents with your constituencies.
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“Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.”