Joe and Marty,

Regarding the cost to hire Design Atlantic, I was referring to what we have paid them for not only the design, but everything that they have done to date in this effort - all the "necessary tasks."

A few years ago when I was on the tennis advisory committee, the OPA staff hired an architect to prepare a plan to "rebuild" the tennis clubhouse.  The architect estimated that the project would cost about $85K.  The lowest bid was in the $125k range.  I asked our board liaison what the architect was paid.  Answer: "you don't want to know."  After repeated requests, I was told it was in the $25K range - just for the plans.

The committee took over, had a set of plans drawn up for $600 (six hundred) and did the revision for $35,000.  It was much more modest, but was doable.

We need a cummunity center that is doable.

Bill Rakow