YACHATS — Plans to upgrade the pavilion building behind the Yachats Commons to meet state fire safety standards have been pushed back after contractors uncovered significant rot in the building’s support beams, sending the project back to the drawing board and raising costs by more than $100,000.
The city council had voted to move ahead in the spring with essential repairs designed to make the pavilion usable year-round. Improvements will include installing single-push exit doors, weatherproofing the building and re-engineering structural supports to comply with fire codes. The building is used for private events and public gatherings connected to the Commons.
Work had already begun after the city hired Open Concepts Architect and selected a contractor. But once the rot was found, construction was halted and the pavilion closed to use. The redesign, combined with rising material costs, has driven the estimated project cost to about $248,000. When additional engineering, permits, utility work and contingency funding are included, the total budget climbs to $300,000 for fiscal 2025-26.
The city has already invested $73,181 in design and permit fees, leaving little of last year’s budget available for construction. The city says it plans to put the project out for bids again.
Would Yachats citizens rather have a $300,000+ repair to the pavilion or three years worth of street improvements? (There’s been discussion of adding a $10 monthly fee to water bills for street repairs.)