[JayCT]

Originally Posted by ctguy87

From the article:



This article is not specifically for downtown so it's tough to draw any conclusions about the downtown market.

No it does not but downtown is right in the middle of this area so of course it is prime for further expansion. West Hartford has little land left to build more housing and not sure if there is much of a market in East Hartford unless it relates to Rentschler Field. Jay

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by ctguy87

Sigh. I'm really not trying to hate on Hartford, but where's the accountability for the 4 MILLION dollars that the stadium is currently overbudget by? The grandstand roof is being cut at a cost of $305,000. Where's the other money? The article says it's from bids coming in higher than expected, but I call BS.

A Grandstand Roof Is Nixed As City Tallies Yard Goats Stadium Cost Overruns - Hartford Courant

Bets on this actually being open on April 7? Winter is fast approaching.

Construction costs are climbing. This is a known fact that I am sure Mr. 250 can confirm. With the economy coming out of the worst recession since the 30's, prices of materials and labor are going up. The grandstand roof was not part of the original plan but was added later so it does not matter if taken out or not. Will see what happens. Jay

[ctguy87]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Construction costs are climbing. This is a known fact that I am sure Mr. 250 can confirm. With the economy coming out of the worst recession since the 30's, prices of materials and labor are going up. The grandstand roof was not part of the original plan but was added later so it does not matter if taken out or not. Will see what happens. Jay

These are things are taken into account ahead of time in planning, or at least should be. There is no justifiable excuse for 4 million dollars in overrunning costs, and the articles I've read fail to account for the specific reasons for it. It's very fishy and I'd like to see some accountability.

The Q Bridge ended up under budget and faced a similar economic atmosphere.

[Mr_250]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Construction costs are climbing. This is a known fact that I am sure Mr. 250 can confirm. With the economy coming out of the worst recession since the 30's, prices of materials and labor are going up. The grandstand roof was not part of the original plan but was added later so it does not matter if taken out or not. Will see what happens. Jay

Some material(s) are actually coming down in price i.e. asphalt and steel but that is because of what they are made from are historically low in price. You are right some items are skyrocketing up in price and concrete being one of them which is what most ballparks are made from. The price of labor which is a major cost has really taken off especially since this is "fast track" project on a PLA job (overtime I bet is eating up a lot of cost).

Also, they might have to pay extra to get on the schedule for the steel mills. You don't just call a mill and say I need 3 beams. You have to get onto the rolling schedule which sometimes could be a year out. If the mill had to be put back in production a specific size; it cost a pretty penny.

My venture would be cost of labor & re-redesign for unseen conditions are the biggest overages.

Originally Posted by ctguy87

These are things are taken into account ahead of time in planning, or at least should be. There is no justifiable excuse for 4 million dollars in overrunning costs, and the articles I've read fail to account for the specific reasons for it. It's very fishy and I'd like to see some accountability.

The Q Bridge ended up under budget and faced a similar economic atmosphere.

Believe it or not a $4m over run is not that hard to get especially on a $60+ project. Having worked in Hartford I will bet the majority of that money was spent on utility relocation and environmental work; the two unforeseen aspects of projects in any City. Steel was designed and built months ago so that didn't change.

Don't be fooled by the under budget talk from politicians. There are so many contingencies built into these major projects that anything short of knocking the down the finished product and rebuilding it will result in an "under budget" comment. The contractor submitted a price of say $400m, you can bet the contractor got all of $400m plus some. It's not like the contractor submitted a price of $400m and said "I like your face, we'll do it for $350m." Not how it works. So the under budget comments are BS to make it sound good like CT saved money.

[ctguy87]

Originally Posted by Mr_250

Some material(s) are actually coming down in price i.e. asphalt and steel but that is because of what they are made from are historically low in price. You are right some items are skyrocketing up in price and concrete being one of them which is what most ballparks are made from. The price of labor which is a major cost has really taken off especially since this is "fast track" project on a PLA job (overtime I bet is eating up a lot of cost).



Believe it or not a $4m over run is not that hard to get especially on a $60+ project. Having worked in Hartford I will bet the majority of that money was spent on utility relocation and environmental work; the two unforeseen aspects of projects in any City. Steel was designed and built months ago so that didn't change.

Don't be fooled by the under budget talk from politicians. There are so many contingencies built into these major projects that anything short of than knocking the down the finished product and rebuilding it will result in an "under budget" comment. The contractor submitted a price of say $400m, you can bet the contractor got all of $400m plus some. It's not like the contractor submitted a price of $400m and said "I like your face, we'll do it for $350m." Not how it works. So the under budget comments are BS to make it sound good like CT saved money.

Thanks for this info

[Mr_250]

Originally Posted by ctguy87

Thanks for this info

It's what I love! lol

As my fiance says, I never grew up, my toys just got bigger.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Mr_250

Some material(s) are actually coming down in price i.e. asphalt and steel but that is because of what they are made from are historically low in price. You are right some items are skyrocketing up in price and concrete being one of them which is what most ballparks are made from. The price of labor which is a major cost has really taken off especially since this is "fast track" project on a PLA job (overtime I bet is eating up a lot of cost).

Also, they might have to pay extra to get on the schedule for the steel mills. You don't just call a mill and say I need 3 beams. You have to get onto the rolling schedule which sometimes could be a year out. If the mill had to be put back in production a specific size; it cost a pretty penny.

My venture would be cost of labor & re-redesign for unseen conditions are the biggest overages.



Believe it or not a $4m over run is not that hard to get especially on a $60+ project. Having worked in Hartford I will bet the majority of that money was spent on utility relocation and environmental work; the two unforeseen aspects of projects in any City. Steel was designed and built months ago so that didn't change.

Don't be fooled by the under budget talk from politicians. There are so many contingencies built into these major projects that anything short of knocking the down the finished product and rebuilding it will result in an "under budget" comment. The contractor submitted a price of say $400m, you can bet the contractor got all of $400m plus some. It's not like the contractor submitted a price of $400m and said "I like your face, we'll do it for $350m." Not how it works. So the under budget comments are BS to make it sound good like CT saved money.

Excellent explanation. It is very hard to estimate what costs are going to be even a few months out. That is where most agencies get into trouble. They look at a project and say it is $XXX million without a real knowledge of what is required or involved. Politicians are even worse. They just pick numbers out of thin air with no basis for them. People need to understand how complex this all can be and how just one little thing can add millions to a job. Sometimes too they get caught when they try to save money. They will cut back on things like subsurface soil investigation and have problems when they go to build and find that the soils are really bad. Jay

[EUPL]

A Casino In Hartford? City Looking At Possible Bid As Tribes Seek Site - Hartford Courant

Would be cool, would really awake sleepy downtown.

[Mr_250]

Originally Posted by EUPL

A Casino In Hartford? City Looking At Possible Bid As Tribes Seek Site - Hartford Courant

Would be cool, would really awake sleepy downtown.

That would be such a boost. I'm not focusing on the boost coming from gambling but entertainment and restaurants. Add this to the ballpark, Front Street and Uconn, Hartford could be a nice little investment. The rest of the businesses that would benefit from this would be immense. Hotels, local eateries and more pop up businesses.

If they want t compete, put this in Hartford and make it a destination not just a casino.

[EUPL]

Originally Posted by Mr_250

That would be such a boost. I'm not focusing on the boost coming from gambling but entertainment and restaurants. Add this to the ballpark, Front Street and Uconn, Hartford could be a nice little investment. The rest of the businesses that would benefit from this would be immense. Hotels, local eateries and more pop up businesses.

If they want t compete, put this in Hartford and make it a destination not just a casino.

They should do this, although I have a feeling it wont happen.
Get a giant statue of Mark Twain for example, something the size of Chicago's Bean. Might sound stupid but people will want to take pictures, post it online, mention the city's name, location, etc... They need to attract more tourists downtown as you said make it a destination.