Marin veterans auditorium repairs require another $5M
Marin Independent JournalMar 22, 2024
Mar. 22—Marin County's public works department is recommending that county supervisors allocate another
The request to supervisors was made Tuesday during a three-day workshop on the upcoming 2024-25 fiscal year budget and was included in a larger overview of the infrastructure needs of county facilities.
"Many of the 44 county-owned buildings are 30 to 60 years old and rely on general funds (for maintenance),"
Speer estimated that the county will need to invest between
Speer said the additional money required for the
On the third day of the budget workshop, Supervisor
Summing up tasks to complete before presenting the new budget in June,
While the seismic work was being done, a host of other structural defects requiring attention were found. In January, it was discovered that the surface beneath the auditorium's foundation and around the building had subsided significantly, causing concrete floor slabs to crack and settle.
The settlement also resulted in sagging and separation in the network of drainage and sewage lines below the building. This prevented water from draining away from the building and caused damage to the orchestra pit lift and electrical and mechanical systems.
Blunk said it will cost an additional
Since the county has already set aside
The health and safety components would include: the auditorium's heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system; the orchestra pit lift mechanism, sewer lines, roof drains, floors and fixtures in lobby restrooms, fresh paint in public spaces, and a facility master plan for future front of house improvements.
In an email to arts organizations and other producers who use the auditorium regularly,
That, however, isn't what arts organizations that rely on the auditorium were hoping to hear.
"The news in this latest communication that affects us was timeline related," said
"We're one of several community organizations that have an annual holiday show in December," Rehkopf said. "It's a very big month for audiences."
Both Brody and Rehkopf said that for planning purposes they need to know with certainty by May whether the auditorium will or won't be open before 2026. If it isn't, then they must book other facilities.
"We had been told that we'd find out in May," Brody said, "but this email indicates that the
In her email, Calicchio also wrote, "When the VMA reopens, it will remain open until the funding is in place for the next 'phase' of construction which would presumably include a new seating design, sound wall and backstage crossover among other items to be identified during the master planning process."
And among her next steps, Calicchio included: "determine whether a bond measure can go on the ballot or if funds will need to be raised through private philanthropy."
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