Cape May to Explore How Much Convention Hall It Can Build for $10.5 M.

CAPE MAY — City Council and City Manager Bruce MacLeod are forming a committee to determine what features a scaled back Convention Hall will have and how much building can be constructed for $10.5 million.
The committee will be comprised of MacLeod, Mayor Edward J. Mahaney Jr., Deputy Mayor Jack Wichterman, the city’s Construction Official, architects and engineers, construction management and a number of residents appointed by City Council.
Jean Powick, who led a charge against bonding an additional $3.1 million for the project to build a 32,000 square foot facility, asked to be considered for the committee.
MacLeod presented a timeline for the project, which he said he created by working backwards from a desired opening date for a new Convention Hall of May 28, 2012. Following the time line backwards:
• Construction completed by May 1, 2012.
• Start Construction: May 1, 2011.
• Award contract to successful bidder: April 1, 2011.
• Receive bids by March 1, 2011.
• Deadline to make bid specifications available to bidders: Feb. 1, 2011.
• Bid preparations two-week period for bid advertisement: Jan. 15 to Feb. 1, 2011
• Design development and preparation of drawings and bid specifications: Sept. 15, 2010 to Jan. 15, 2011.
• Conceptual phase: Six week period for City Council to review project and make decisions pertaining to building size, interior layout, exterior design, program equipment, promenade improvements and budget/cost.
MacLeod said a plan needs to be developed that fits the funding source of $10.5 million, which he said could use the footprint of the current Convention Hall or use the Solarium property.
He said the state Department of Environmental Protection may be able to issue a CAFRA permit “by rule,” if the building remains on the same footprint or seek modification of the permit if the building goes outside the current bounds.
MacLeod said his timeline allows 12 months for construction of a new facility.
Deputy Mayor Jack Wichterman said his preference was for a new hall to use the footprint of the current facility and for the city to retain use of the Solarium. He said the main question was what can the city afford to build.
Councilwoman Deanna Fiocca concurred with Wichterman. She suggested a second floor for a new hall if possible.
Councilman Bill Murray agreed with keeping the Solarium and suggested any expansion beyond the current footprint be “sideways” and not towards the ocean or Beach Avenue. He said MacLeod’s timeline was “optimistic.” Murray said council needed a cost envelope with which to work.
“Everyone would like to have a Mercedes 6000 but maybe we need a Toyota,” said Murray. “We somehow need to get back in reality.”
Mahaney suggested going with the most basic design for a new hall and then contact DEP on the CAFRA permit issue. He said he would not worry about building a second floor on a new Convention Hall at this point but be more concerned with getting conceptual drawings of what a new facility would look like and what it would cost.
“Hopefully, the estimates this time will be more in line with reality,” said the mayor.
He suggested a main hall that can be divided into two sections, so two events could be held simultaneously.
It remains to be seen if the design would include space for retail stores. Mahaney said it was important that a new facility “at least is self sufficient from an operations standpoint.”
“As it stands now, the building is not going to contribute to the retirement of the debt service,” he said, which would put more of a burden on taxpayers and not stimulate the city’s economy.
Architect Martin Kimmel, who designed the $13.6 million proposed Convention Hall, said the most reliable source for determining how much building the city can get for $10.5 million was to examine the bids on hand for the larger facility.
MacLeod said after including contingency costs and other expenses such as furniture, fixtures and equipment, the city may be working with about $7.5 million to $8.5 million. He said he wanted new cost estimates to be an “all inclusive package,” so when the doors open to the new facility, “everything is in place.”
Wichterman told Kimmel “the ball was in his court,” to come up with accurate estimate of construction costs. He said council would not want to go back to the public to ask for more money for a smaller building.
Another unknown is if the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) will continue to make money available for a Convention Hall in Cape May. Some indications from Gov. Chris Christie show he may restrict CRDA grants to properties in Atlantic City, said MacLeod, but as of this time, the funding is still available.
CRDA promised Cape May $1 for every $7 the city spends on a new hall.
During public comment, Charlotte Todd, chairwoman of the city’s Environmental Commission, suggested a grant writer be included on the Convention Hall Committee to seek out funding sources.