P[istorino

I talked to a guy yesterday who has a nice sized lot and wanted to put a significant addition to his home 15 months ago. The best offer he could get was 100k. He went back to those very same companies last month and got a bid of 40k for the VERY SAME addition. The Pistorino report is easily obtained if one makes a Freedom of Information request at the City Clerks office. It probably SHOULD be online but it WAS buried DEEP! Pistorino and Elam is the name of the company, and I believe they are structural engineers who have done work for the state, county, Tri-rail, etc. It would be cool if THEY had a copy of their report on THEIR website, as it may save a lot of time and effort. It HAS been a couple years since that report was made tho. New roof, floors, walls, plumbing, electric, sprinklers and insulation is "lipstick on a pig"? Get real. No variances required. Its a new building THAT WE CAN AFFORD, with no new debt. Some of our local builders and contractors would obviously be involved in the renovation, so we would be supporting our own. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

Pistorino report commentary

The Pistorino report DID say a new roof, new floor, new walls, new plumbing, new electricity, and a new sprinkler system was needed and all of that was included in the price he quoted. It also included some reinforcement of some of the roof structure but overall, said the huge pilings that are buried 22-feet deep into coral rock are in excellent shape. There is over 1.5 million dollars in foundation and structural supports that can easily and safely be used as a framework for a renovated, and essentially new, building at a price we can easily afford, with no new debt. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

commentary

"the foundation is old, the structure is out dated and it would cost more in the long run." This poster obviously has never read the Pistorino report because he said the foundation is in excellent shape and we could refurbish for 1.6-1.8 million. Add 300k if we wanted it air-conditioned. The Pistorino report was buried DEEP, even tho the city paid Pistorino 17k for it a couple years ago. It was NEVER discussed and/or debated as a serious option. There are a lot of out-of-work construction workers now and I believe we could renovate it for considerably less now. Why not ask Pistorino to come back and update his report with the most current data and estimates? Then let the people vote whether they want to have a 2 million dollar new gym with NO NEW DEBT or a 6.8 million dollar new gym with 2.5 million (at least) in new debt? Whichever way the people decided would be fine with me. I just believe this is a major multi-million dollar project, and like the golf course and the highrises, the people should vote, and let their voices be heard because in the end we will be the ones paying for it! Dr. Mel P. Johnson