West Windsor’s plans to expand the township senior center suffered a serious setback this month when bids for the project came in more than $1 million over budget.##M:[more]##
The project, which had been projected to cost $1.5 million, generated three bids, the lowest of which was $2.5 million.
As a result, the township will be forced to resort to a phased approach to the project, according to Business Administrator Christopher Marion. On August 22, township officials asked the project architect to draft a plan that would allow phase one to be completed within the the original budget.
The plan, designed by Michael Winkler, of Saizan-Winkler of Freehold, generated three bids: Structural Concepts of Ocean Township, $2.97 million; Burmarc, also of Ocean, $2,”5 million; and MJJ of Atco, $3.6 million.The project includes a 6,”000-square-foot addition to the existing center.
“We will most likely look to upgrade the front portion of the building, including the entrance, and adding some classrooms, in phase one,” says Marion. “Phase two would be the upgrades to the larger recreation room. The township secured much of the $1.5 through grants and donations.
