The prospective Quinte Museum of Natural History has seen a big jump in the expected cost.
Originally projected to cost approximately $14 million it is now expected to cost around $26 million.
The news came from executive director York Lethbridge at Monday night’s Quinte West Council meeting. He explained some of why the cost grew so much.
“The cost to purchase the RCI facility has gone up by about $500,000, but most of the other elements here are either a direct increase in price associated with the gross square footage or the associated percentages that designers and architects and other consultants would expect to be paid for their services.”
The City of Quinte West has committed two million dollars in cash and two million dollars in-kind for a total of four million towards the project.
The sudden increase in the cost had Quinte West city councillors asking questions. Councillor Leslie Roseblade expressed some concern.
“You have two more quarters left of funding and what happens if you don’t secure funding for the last two quarters and you don’t secure your millions in funding? Is that a question you can possibly answer or that you know at this time?”
Lethbridge explained that with the pandemic, funding has been hindered but implored that patience with a project this size is important.
The Museum of Natural History will have a heavy emphasis on dinosaurs. The facility, which will operate out of the same site as Research Casting International in Trenton, will feature 14,000 square feet of exhibition space. Lethbridge gave some insight at what the museum will capture.
“Interpretive framework focused on the five major extinction episodes that precedes the current Anthropocene and this current period generally titled the sixth extinction. We also feel that there’s opportunities to have this intersect with other interests in the natural environment and other concerns with environmental conservation and protection.”
Lethbridge added that there is a lot of local interest in seeing the project go forth from the public sector provided that government funding can be secured. He said they’re currently looking into more government funding for the next phase to avoid having to seek more money from Quinte West.
