General Vancouver Updates

[mr.x]

For discussion and updates outside of downtown in the City of Vancouver only.

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Vanoc Update: Trout Lake Ice Arena
Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, December 10, 2007

What: Trout Lake Ice Arena

What's new: Park Board to approve second contract to Bird Construction.

Details: Trout Lake's existing arena is to be replaced with a new facility that will be used as a training facility for short-track speedskaters. Once estimated at $10.5 million, the project cost has ballooned to $15.94 million because of the hot construction market. It first went to $13.08 million last year. Then, in October the city agreed to pay another $2.86 million by diverting money from two other projects, the post-Olympic conversion of the Hillcrest Curling Centre and the Renfrew Pool change room project.

The Park Board split the Trout Lake project into two contracts. The first was awarded to Bird Construction in November for nearly $2.2 million. The board said Bird was also working to bring the overall cost down to $13.7 million, with the remaining $2.14 million for contingencies. In a report going to the Park Board on Dec. 10, staff now want to award a second contract for $11.53 million to Bird. Normally the board has to approve the contract award, but because the final contract negotiations won't be done before the board's Christmas break, the general manager wants to have the authority to sign the contract himself.