Rugby clubhouse tab soars past $1M
Today’s grand opening postponed after building fails safety inspection by city inspectors
On the eve of its grand opening, Peterborough rugby officials were left reeling Friday by news their new clubhouse failed a safety inspection.
It’s the latest setback in a three-year project to relocate the former Peterborough Lawn Bowling Clubhouse to Nicholls Oval. The project has been plagued by delays and cost overruns which have ballooned the price tag to more than $1 million from its original $700,000 budget, confirmed Peterborough Rugby Union Football Club executive Bruce Kidd.
The club expected to make up a portion of the approximately $200,000 it is short this weekend with more than 200 guests expected for three days of rugby events. Kegs of beer were ordered and an indoor liquor licence obtained. It’s too late to change to an outdoor licence, said Anne Sloggett, chairwoman of the grand opening committee.
“There go our profits for the weekend,” Sloggett said. “I’m kind of reeling still.”
All the rugby games, including youth, adult and senior teams, will go ahead as planned with Rugby Day in Peterborough activities Saturday and Sunday. However the clubhouse opening is postponed until further notice and only construction workers are allowed inside.
Kidd said he’ll meet building inspectors Monday to get a clearer understanding of what issues need correcting before final approval is given. One issue relates to a railing being completed for a veranda facing the rugby pitch. He said the railing was to be finished Friday night. Another relates to a wheelchair accessible ramp. He classified the issues is minor but enough in totality to not meet building code.
Kidd said they knew there were finishing touches required but didn’t expect to fail inspection.
“We’re determined to make it a safe facility and we have some things left to do. We’ll work on it and get it open,” he said.
The ambitious project is more than relocation of the 2,000-square-foot, two-storey heritage building. The project includes 4,000-square feet of underground change rooms, showers and wash rooms. Once complete, Kidd says it will be a “special” building that “will be good for the community.”
The club, which raised more than $200,000 towards the project, was prepared to acknowledge Saturday the city for its $151,500 donation to help with relocation and design costs and the Ontario Trillium Fund for $150,000 to cover costs of the change rooms and accessible ramp and washroom. The club also received a low-interest loan of $308,000 from the city which it is paying off loyally, said Kidd.
A number of issues created unanticipated expenses. An underwater spring was discovered when digging the foundation which required changes to install a sump pump. There were a number of small items, Kidd said, which when added up brought the cost to more than $1 million.
“It’s been more of a complicated project than anybody envisioned,” he said. “It’s a heritage building so there are certain limits there, which is fine and why we got into it, but there is also the modern stuff we are putting together with it.”
One reason for the project taking so long, he said, is they've used volunteer labour as much as possible to keep costs down.
“We have a wonderful group of volunteers who have been doing a really good job,” Kidd said.
He said two contractors most of the money is owed to have been understanding in working out payment schedules with the club.
“We’ve paid over 80% of the total costs on the construction,” he said.
He said the executive has been open with its membership about costs they’ll have to make up over the next couple of years. He said it was clear early it would cost more than expected but scrapping the project and leaving a “white elephant” was not an option.
“We made a conscious decision we had to go ahead and get it open and then we can do something with it to pay back the money,” Kidd said.