Renovation Update

Planning for AB Project Moves Ahead

It’s difficult to believe that another year has passed – time seems to pass more quickly the older one becomes.  The early months of 2011 involved many meetings on the AB Building and some progress.  Discussions with ISD 361 and Kootasca/Headstart appeared promising for several months; however finances proved to be too great a hurdle for either party to consider occupancy on the first floor of AB. In the end, that may have been for the best; use by the school district and Headstart would have added tremendously to the cost of the project due to Federal regulations and Headstart rules. 

We do not view those developments as a setback but rather as a learning experience.  A number of tasks were accomplished during that process including:

 

·    A Hazardous Materials Study & Report was completed by Carlson Professional Services of Duluth with a $2,500 grant from the Northland Foundation,

·    Lucachick Architecture of Bemidji completed tentative plans and cost estimates,

·    A  “Housing Market Survey” and several community meetings were completed with the assistance of our project consultant, Mr. David Salene,

·   An “Evaluation of the Heating System at the Backus/AB Complex” was completed (pro bono) by Kurt Sobczynski of Northland Engineering, LLC,

·   The Building Committee developed a Project Development Plan for the AB Building,

·    SJA Architects of Duluth completed a (pro bono) “Renovation Study of the AB Building”

·    Repairs were made to the original boiler system that serves both the Alexander Baker and Backus Buildings with the assistance of Boise Paper, Stebbins Engineering and our staff,

·    A $10,000 pledge of funds was made by the Koochiching Development Authority Board to assist with funding boiler repair or replacement.

Project cost estimates range from $7,000,000 to $11,000,000.  Our consultant, Mr. David Salene, is currently    exploring several methods of financing the renovation of the AB Building.  Both the City of International Falls and the Koochiching County Board continue to be supportive of efforts to develop the AB Building as a housing complex.  Our Board of Directors hopes to have a financing plan in place by the end of this year.  Thank you for your interest in this project!  Please contact our office with any questions you may have.

 

Ward Merrill, Executive Director

Backus Community Center