Dormant Government Center, earlier this month
GOSHEN – The cost and size of the Orange County Government Center in Goshen, which is slated for a $64 million remodeling and expansion subject to the outcome of a lawsuit, came under question at the Physical Services Committee of the county legislature on Monday.
Lawmakers learned the original size of the building was projected at 180,000 square feet, but that has risen to 205,000 square feet.
Couple that added cost with the price of labor and Democratic Minority Leader Christopher Eachus is concerned.
“I have union folks out there, not associated with us, looking to take on this job, screaming that every minute that we wait, their prices are going up, because they are going to be out on the casino, they are going to be on the bridge, they are going to be all occupied, which means they can charge us a lot more,” Eachus said. “I am not nearly as optimistic the maintaining of a $64 million budget is doable unless we find other places to cut.”
Construction on the project is on hold until around July 1 when a court challenge is expected to move forward. In the meantime, workers have set concrete safety barriers around the building and begun asbestos removal.
