Sticker shock

Ely city officials have known for years that renovating the Community Center would be an expensive proposition.But even they were taken aback last week by just how expensive it could be.Restoring the nearly 70-year-old landmark to prime condition would cost more than $4.3 million, according to architects and engineers who toured the facility earlier this month.That’s more than double the estimate prepared in 1994 for similar repairs, and seemingly far out of the city’s price range - unless it can land an influx of grant funding.Mayor Roger Skraba said the city could built a new library and community center for less than it would cost to renovate the existing building, while council member Mike Hillman pressed for a less expensive upgrade.But at least one council member - Mark Zupec -wants to proceed with the major renovations.“If we can’t do public projects like this, we should all go home,” said Zupec. “If we’re willing to spend $10 million on a wastewater treatment plant, I hope we’d be willing to do something to the nicest facility in town.”Cost estimates prepared by architect Doug Hildenbrand, who owns Hibbing-based Architectural Resources, Inc., included a series of improvements ranging from the installation of an elevator, complete exterior renovations, new mechanical, ventilation and electrical systems and upgrades to the kitchen and auditorium.The three-story building houses Ely’s public library, community organizations such as the Northern Lakes Arts Association and Ely American Legion Post 248, and is used for a variety of other functions including meetings, dinners, dances and community education courses.“It really is a diamond in the rough,” said Hildenbrand. “It’s a grand old building.”It’s also a facility that’s starting to show its age.The facility is beginning to deteriorate and has pressing issues including a leaking roof, bricks that are pushing out from the facade and a mechanical system in need of attention.Hildenbrand said that there were two immediate structural safety concerns: loose exterior stone at several wall locations and the chimney and a large hole in a roof support beam near the stage.A six-member crew from Architectural Resources and Northland Consulting Engineers also identified major needs including the roof, exterior walkways, window replacement, lighting and handicapped accessibility.“If something isn’t done at some point, it’s self destructing as it sits there,” said Hildenbrand.Plans to improve the facility have been in a holding pattern for well over a decade, primarily because of funding concerns.City leaders say that remains the primary obstacle.Several council members got behind the push to improve the facility earlier this year but to date the city has no source to fund even a part of the project.According to Skraba, the Community Center project could be funded if Ely were to implement a one percent sales tax, an initiative that requires both legislative and local voter approval.“The more and more we delve into this, this is screaming sales tax,” said Skraba.But Ely has failed in several attempts at the State Legislature, and another push must wait until the 2006 session, something that would delay an tax collection until 2007 at the earliest.Zupec said that repairs are pressing and shouldn’t be subject to the political process.“Those (repairs) aren’t going to wait for us to get a sales tax,” said Zupec.Zupec called for the city to proceed, in phases if nothing else.Hillman said he’d like to see a more detailed cost breakdown.“Could we get a minimum?” Hillman asked. “I want to talk about the things that absolutely need to be done, to prevent it from deteriorating any further.”Hildenbrand said the safety issues need to be addressed and that the heating system “is on its last legs too.”He estimated that it would cost at least $500,000 to preserve the facility. The $4.3 million estimate included $1.95 million for general construction (30,000 square feet at $65 per square foot), $1.09 million for mechanical construction, $480,000 in electrical work, $100,000 in library and kitchen upgrades, and $725,000 for fees and contingency.City engineer Harold Langowski is looking for grant funding to help with the project, and Zupec said it’s possible the city may also access a low-interest loan program coordinated by the federal government.The building opened with considerable fanfare in 1938, with a grand opening that attracted 5,000 people through the doors at a facility that has - since then - served as a focal point in local history.Ely leaders say they want that history preserved, but the high cost looms as a potential roadblock.Hildenbrand will return to the council this summer with a more detailed breakdown of costs.