The best-kept secrets in City Hall are the cost overruns and time delays for renovations of the NYC Council chambers.
Construction began in 2007 with an original cost estimate below $50 million and completion date of 2009. In 2008, the first of a series of cost overruns raised the price tag to $65 million. In 2011, it was announced that the final price tag was going to be $123.8 million with a completion date of July 2012. Due to unforeseen site conditions, the price went up another $25 million. This brought the total project cost to almost $150 million. This was accompanied by yet another new completion date of December 2013.
Why are those responsible for having performed design and engineering accompanied by site preparation and inspection prior to the initiation of construction not held accountable for repeated project delays and cost overruns? Why did Council Speaker Christine Quinn, City Comptroller John Lui, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer remain silent about excessive number of both huge cost overruns and multiyear delayed in project completion? Will Mayor-elect de Blasio & Comptroller-elect Stringer take any action?
Larry Penner
Great Neck
