We thank everyone who attended one of the four June Q&A sessions about the Village Green Project. Your thoughts gave us the opportunity to hear what our neighbors are wondering at this point in the project. Typical questions we heard:
What are our funding sources and are there any restrictions on these funds?
There are three $1 million gifts or grants to the project so far: $1 million from the state Department of Commerce Building Communities Fund for building construction, except for the library portion; $1 million from the C. Keith Birkenfeld Memorial Trust, unrestricted; and $1 million from Kitsap Community Foundation, awarded to Kitsap Regional Library Foundation for exclusive use at the Village Green’s new Kingston branch library.
The Village Green Foundation was also awarded $4,000 for senior center furnishings. Some $600,000 from the 2012 sale of the property for the Village Green Senior Apartments is funding joint infrastructure improvements at the site (e.g. road, sewer, electrical) for both the new senior apartments and community center. Kitsap County provided another $335,000 for architectural/engineering work on the new community center.
Community members — individuals, community groups, businesses — have contributed $654,000 to the project since 2008. Of that, $2,300 was designated specifically for the library, and $1,000 for the Boys & Girls Club.
How much money is still needed?
The short answer is, we don’t know yet. We started this project estimating construction costs at $6 million for a new community center/library (to replace the building in the middle of State Route 104) and Boys & Girls Club space (to expand the too-small-space at Kingston Middle School). We have devoted the past year to design, engineering and fundraising. Now, we’re reviewing professional cost estimates for construction, furnishings, and financing.
Despite holding the line on attractive embellishments, we know the fully-loaded cost will be higher than $6 million. And, not surprisingly, it’s a challenging time to raise money. We are in the process of determining precisely what we can build with the (pretty amazing!) $4.8 million we have. Stay tuned.
How soon will construction begin?
Earlier this year, the VGF board determined that mid-July is the decision-point for the timing of construction bids. That’s still the plan. The decision to begin in either late 2013 or spring 2014 will depend on the gap between what we have and what we need as well as construction financing rates and seasonal timing.
Will the community center be a “green” building? How environmentally friendly will it be?
Our state $1 million grant requires us to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver standards. Project architect Miles Yanick has been a leader in this field for years. We will meet LEED Silver by sourcing building materials locally to minimize transportation costs; and using LED lights, passive solar energy, and recycled materials. The budget for the project is tight — we’re trying to do a lot with a little — so enhancements like solar panels, so attractive in concept, can’t be cost-justified.
What plans are being made for building security and access?
The Village Green Foundation’s mission is to build an energy-efficient, attractive, long-lasting facility to meet our community’s needs for decades to come. The Village Green Metropolitan Park District must maintain and operate the building and the park using the same value proposition — get a lot from our money for everyone. We envision the building open for many hours every day, broadly available to the public; a reception desk staffed by contractors and volunteers who issue card-keys for access to meeting rooms; and sharing multi-purpose flexible spaces.
