New Port Richey City Councilors learned Tuesday that the Hacienda reconstruction is likely to cost significantly more than originally expected. In a bid approval vote on Saturday night, City Economic Development Director, told the Council about increased project costs associated with additional damaged found to the building by contractors and architects. Among the damage is “spalding” to the concrete, which Iezzoni explained as webbing cracks that causes the concrete to “explode” off the rebar reinforcement. Iezzoni said that those repairs would be “extensive.”

Iezonni said that the balconies on the north end of the building were not included in the current bid because “the cost to do those would be significant,” Iezzoni said. Iezzoni also cited a current $250,000 estimate for the roof but said that significant additional funds would be needed to bring the building’s roof into compliance with hurricane codes, including additional carpentry work.

Based on Iezzoni’s bid summary and his outline of issues that were not included in the bid, it is almost a certainty that the City will have outlay at least some significant funds to complete the renovations. The majority of the increased cost, according to Iezzoni, is the removal of “nonconforming” portions of the building’s architecture that was added at a later date.

The bid approval on Tuesday night was for $868,338, or about 86% of the $1 million grant provided by the State of Florida for the restoration of the landmark. Any additional funds needed above the $1 million will have to come from the City’s own coffers.

Iezzoni said that windows and doors are being replaced on the building, including 177 windows using 21 different designs–and that the cost estimate just for the windows and doors is estimated at $1.2 million. Iezzoni said that he is hopeful that amount will be reduced.

“To go from his [the architect’s] number of [a total of] $1 million to saying that the windows alone are going to cost $1.2 million is totally different,” said Councilman Chopper Davis. Iezzoni responded that the architects had said that the cost would be significantly lower and that the bid cost was much higher than it should be. “He had some interesting comments about that,” Iezzoni said.

“It doesn’t really surprise me,” said Deputy Mayor Bill Phillips, “because obviously we let the asset sit for such a long, long time that now that we’re starting to go and peel the onion back we’re beginning to start getting that toxic smell that makes us cry.”

By Jon Tietz