The City of Duncan’s long-awaited $1.2-million place-making initiative on Station Street that was scheduled to be completed by this summer has been delayed.
Duncan’s CAO Peter de Verteuil told council at its meeting on April 15 that all the bids from construction companies to take on the project that came in before the deadline at the end of March were over budget.
He said, as a result, the next step for the city is to work with the project’s consultant to revise elements of the design to achieve a comparable outcome with lower costs, and then to re-tender the project.
RELATED STORY: CITY OF DUNCAN RECEIVES $1 MILLION GRANT FOR STATION STREET PROJECT
De Verteuil didn’t give any indication on the new timeline for the project.
The Station Street project would see significant improvements to Station Street Park, enhancements to the Station Street/Craig Street intersection and immediate surrounding area, and the installation of public washrooms.
This project intends to transform Station Street Park into a dynamic public space that will serve as a hub for community events, festivals, and other activities.
It is an essential component of the city’s efforts to support the downtown businesses and attract more visitors to the area, the city has said.
The city received a $1-million grant from B.C.’s Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program for the project in April, 2023, and the municipality intends to kick in an additional $200,000.