Guest Opinion Brian Selvy
The “Majority 4” continue to say that a new community center which meets the expectations of Oro Valley residents would cost over $20 Million. Mary Snider mentioned the $20 Million figure again recently, and this was not based on her own research but what a landscape architect told her. A landscape architect isn’t the most qualified person to make such an estimate.
Let’s look at the actual data instead!
Architekton is an architectural design firm that has successfully designed and built many community and recreation centers, YMCAs, and multi-generational centers all over Arizona. They successfully built centers for diverse clients for $90 to $215 per square foot. Even taking into inflation, these centers could all be built for less than $250 per square foot today.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommended a 40,000 square foot recreational center. At even the overly conservative price of $250 per square foot, we could build a customized community center for $10 Million. At $200 per square foot, which is reasonable, the center would cost us $8 Million.
To put in perspective how unrealistic and inflated Ms. Snider’s number is, consider this: a $20 Million, 40,000 square foot recreation center would come out to $500 per square foot – an absurd price that doesn’t pass the giggle test. As a comparison, two LEED Certified Silver health and wellness complexes at Arizona State University (which require special green building materials and processes) were built for $310 and $335 per square foot, respectively.
Let’s also look at the other aspect of the incumbent’s statement: we’d have to spend $20 Million to get what Oro Valley residents desired. Let’s break this down. First of all, this implies that the 30 year old El Con racquetball club building IS what residents desire: an old, converted racquetball courts, a dance studio with 8′ high ceilings, workout equipment in hallways, and a non-ADA compliant structure. That in no way is what OV residents desire. Secondly, take a look at the Architekton designed buildings for yourself: these include custom community meeting rooms, indoor sports courts, indoor tracks, fitness facilities, etc. They are what residents of a prestigious town such as Oro Valley want.
This is yet just another blatant example of the M-4 generating an El Con cover story that doesn’t hold water.
Brian Selvy