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Mount Kisco Firehouse Estimates Off By Millions

A paperwork snafu is expected has led to ballooning construction costs for a renovation and expansion of a Mount Kisco firehouse.

A rendering of a proposed addition to the Green Street firehouse in Mount Kisco.

A rendering of a proposed addition to the Green Street firehouse in Mount Kisco.

Photo Credit: H2M/screen shot

The architectural firm that was hired for the Green Street firehouse was nearly 4,000-square-feet off in measuring the area, making their estimated cost for the renovation short by approximately $1.6 million.

Long Island-based H2M architects + engineers based its projection on 9,345-square-feet of space instead of more than 13,000-square-feet. CEO Rich Humann said that “a portion of the  total square footage of this project was inaccurately input, which directly impacted the cost opinion and pre-bond budgeting.”

As a result, the construction cost opinion provided by H2M was 21.5 percent below what it should have been.

“H2M architects + engineers has an established process which it has used on hundreds of projects to prepare construction cost opinions. Using comprehensive data input, our construction cost opinions are driven in part by both square footage and cost per square footage estimates,” he said in a statement.

“H2M architects + engineers has built its reputation for more than 85 years on our ability to work collaboratively with our clients as a trusted professional. As part of this unbending dedication to servicing our clients, H2M will continue to work with the Village of Mount Kisco to help move this important project forward.

In 2017, voters in Mount Kisco approved a $10.25 bond referendum to make improvements and additions at town’s firehouse. The Green Street project was earmarked for approximately $6 million.

“Calculation error by architects results in an inaccurate estimate of $10.25 million that was approved by the voters in 2017,” Mount Kisco officials stated. “Updated estimate and amount that can be recovered through error and omission insurance will impact go forward plan.”

It is unclear what the Town Board will do moving forward. They are scheduled to discuss the issue at its next meeting on Monday, March 4.

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