RIM Park & Grey Silo Golf Course

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

RIM Park & Grey Silo Golf Course
Waterloo, Ontario

http://scoregolf.com/web-imagebase/facility-guides/on-quad_cities-kitchner_waterloo_cambridge_guelph/greysilo-gc-01-tnfeat.jpg (http://scoregolf.com/web-imagebase/facility-guides/on-quad_cities-kitchner_waterloo_cambridge_guelph/greysilo-gc-01-tnfeat.jpg)

Size: 500 Acres
Upfront Cost: $56.7 million
Park Website: www.rimpark.ca (http://www.rimpark.ca/)
Grey Silo Website: www.golfnorth.ca/greysilo.html (http://www.golfnorth.ca/greysilo.html)

A thread to discuss new developments at RIM Park and Grey Silo Golf Course such as the new FIFA-approved/rated soccer fields (currently under construction), or past developments such as the infamous financing scandal or the privatization of the Grey Silo Golf Course.

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

Canada - Ontario Partnership Invests in RIM Park, Road Infrastructure
June 12, 2009

The residents of Waterloo will soon benefit from a new outdoor sports facility, and repairs to three major roads, thanks to more than $6 million in funding from the governments of Canada and Ontario announced today by Peter Braid, MP for Kitchener-Waterloo and the Hon. John Milloy, MPP for Kitchener-Centre. With additional contributions from municipal and private partners, spending in the City of Waterloo will total more than $9 million.

A new $4.9 million outdoor sports facility will be built at Waterloo’s RIM Park, transforming the facility’s seven existing outdoor fields into four medium-sized fields, and two international fields featuring FIFA-approved dimensions, artificial turf, lighting and spectator seating. The federal and provincial governments will each contribute $1,631,190 to this project, along with $1,631,190 provided by the City of Waterloo and the Waterloo Minor Soccer Club.

Three roads will also be improved with $4,122,600 in federal, provincial and municipal funding. Bearinger Road and Columbia Street will be enhanced through road resurfacing and additional features such as bike lanes, multi-use trails and pedestrian-crossing areas. Pinewood Place will be reconstructed, including the road base granulars and pavement structure, the addition of new curbs and a sidewalk, and the replacement of the watermain, sewer and storm water systems.

"Working together with our provincial, municipal, and private partners, the government of Canada is making a real difference for Waterloo,” said Peter Braid. "Soccer families and athletes will benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, and commuters will benefit from better roads. Through these investments, our government’s Economic Action Plan is helping to stimulate the economy, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for Canadians here and across the country.”

“Investing in infrastructure creates jobs while providing new and upgraded services and facilities in our community,” said John Milloy, MPP Kitchener Centre. “I am pleased that our governments have partnered together to invest in these important projects that will help get shovels in the ground as soon as possible.”

"This is a tremendous day for the City of Waterloo,” said Mayor Brenda Halloran. "Enhancing and repairing some of our aging roads and building a premier outdoor sports facility at RIM Park will have a significant and tangible impact on this community."

“This project provides an opportunity to place a world class facility in our midst," said Andy Vann, President of the Waterloo Minor Soccer Club. "Our partnership with the City of Waterloo represents the positive impact of government and community organizations working together for the benefit of the people who live here. None of this could have been possible without the considerable fundraising efforts of our Club membership.”

The governments of Canada and Ontario are each contributing one-third of the total eligible costs of the RIM Park project under the Building Canada Fund - Communities Component, This is the 2nd project in Waterloo to receive funding under this program. In February 2009, the municipality received $1,932,826 to rehabilitate the Davenport Road corridor.

The road projects announced today are part of the joint infrastructure stimulus funding first announced by the federal and provincial governments last Friday, June 5, 2009. The federal component of these investments comes as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, which committed $12 billion in infrastructure stimulus, including a $4 billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The government of Ontario’s investment comes as part of its 2009 provincial budget, Confronting the Challenge: Building our Economic Future. The joint funding is available for two years for projects that will be built during the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons.

http://www.peterbraid.ca/EN/8048/91296


Construction of the RIM Park Premium Outdoor Sports Field Facility in Waterloo
http://www.actionplan.gc.ca/initiatives/eng/index.asp?mode=8&imode=2&ID=3220&initiativeId=113

Initiative: Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund (http://www.actionplan.gc.ca/initiatives/eng/index.asp?mode=2&initiativeID=113)
Description: This project will construct an outdoor multi-use sport field facility with two international sized, lighted, artificial turf, multi-purpose fields built to accommodate soccer, football, disc sports, lacrosse, rugby and field hockey, as well as a periphery distance-marked track, and trail circuits.
Federal Funding: $1,631,190
Total Project Value: $4,893,570
Related Website(s): http://www.creatingjobs.gc.ca

[RangersFan]

On my last picture shooting day, I noticed a whole lot of work happening at RIM park, this must have been what they were working on.

[UrbanWaterloo]

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/673525

10 years ago fateful deal for RIM Park was approved
By Terry Pender, Record staff - February 20, 2010

Treasurer Bob Mavin keeps an information board in the corner of his office that he takes out when someone starts talking about a good deal for the City of Waterloo.

The board was used in public meetings the City of Waterloo held more than a decade ago and extols the benefits and low costs of building a large recreation complex in the city's northeast corner — what would later be called RIM Park.

“Whenever anybody has a good deal and they come in and tell me about it, I pull this out and go: ‘You mean like this?'” Mavin said.

The information board says the park would be funded through donations, user fees and a long-term operating lease. Annual operating costs would not exceed $1.2 million a year.

Projected operating costs were about the same as those for the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex on Father David Bauer Drive.

It would all prove to be spectacularly wrong.

It was 10 years ago — Feb. 21, 2000 — that Waterloo city councillors voted to approve in principle a financing deal to pay for the construction of RIM Park.

City staff told council the deal with MFP Financial Services Ltd. of Mississauga was for $48.3 million at 4.7 per cent for a total payout of $112.9 million over 31 years. In fact, the deal turned out to be for $59 million at 9.2 per cent for a total payout of $227.7 million.

The city sued MFP and the two insurance companies that provided the funds for the loan. An out-of-court settlement reduced the total payout by some $82 million. Taxpayers still got stuck with $32.8 million in extra costs, though.

A judicial inquiry discovered that nobody at city hall did the math before committing the city to the largest financial transaction in its history.

“RIM Park was a lesson not just for the City of Waterloo, it was a lesson for all of Ontario,” Mavin said.

The Municipal Act was changed to forbid cities from borrowing money in ways to keep the debt off the books.

“I think the biggest lesson, again, was that if something sounds too good to be true, maybe it is too good to be true and therefore due diligence has to be a major part of the process,” Mavin said.

The financial fallout continues 10 years on.

The city has several lawsuits on the go and refuses to make public how much it is spending on legal fees, in part because the fees may cause some people to call for a halt to the lawsuits.

The payments started in March 2002 at $74,746 a month. The monthly payments increased steadily. Currently, the city pays $396,205 a month. The monthly payments are scheduled to increase in stages to $647,442 a month in the final year of the deal—2031.

The city took out $14.1 million from Waterloo North Hydro and invested that money. Along with some additional contributions, that fund will produce enough money to pay off that extra $31 million in debt come 2031.

“Our debt service costs are about $5.8 million a year just for RIM Park,” Mavin said.

“It takes away some flexibility. If you spend $5.8 million on debt you can't spend $5.8 million on other services,” Mavin said.

Construction of an east side library branch was pushed back to 2018 when the city will have saved enough to pay cash for that project. The plans for several parking garages were put on hold until private-sector partners come forward. “So we are not looking at debt as the only solution, we are looking at it as part of the solution,” Mavin said.

At one point Waterloo had the highest debt per capita in the province. It is still in the top 10. At the end of 2009, Waterloo's debt totalled $73 million, of which $57 million is for RIM Park.

The debt management policies adopted by the city are working, Mavin said.

In 2004, 17 cents of every tax dollar went to the debt. That is now down to 13 cents of every tax dollar.

“The trend line is good,” Mavin said.

The Grey Silo golf course was supposed to have $900,000 a year in revenues, but it never came close. The most the city took in was about $150,000. It was leased to Golf North a couple of years ago, which now runs it and pays the city $500,000 a year.

The predicted user fees never materialized and the park required a far higher subsidy than originally predicted because fewer people than forecast use the sprawling facility.

In 2004 the City of Waterloo struck back, launching four lawsuits. The key one was and remains the suit against its former treasurer, John Ford. In turn, Ford sued Tom Stockie, the city's former chief administrative officer, and Dave Robson, the former salesperson for MFP Financial Services Ltd. of Mississauga, which arranged the financing.

The city also has lawsuits against several employees of MFP, now known as Renasant Financial Partners Ltd. All of these lawsuits are still active and could go to trial later this year—about six years after the first one was started.

David O'Connor, the Toronto lawyer representing Waterloo, said the cases have progressed to the point where a judge will be asked in June to set a trial date.

“We are eager to push this case forward and get it to trial,” O'Connor said.

The city seeks $31 million plus damages in the case that has taken years to bring to this stage.

“We have been pretty busy trying to move the case forward and involved in discoveries, we've had a lot of evidence exchanged, we are still in the middle of battling on some preliminary issues,” O'Connor said.

“Having said that, we are hoping by some time mid-this year we will be in a position to advise the court that the city is ready to go forward with the trial,” O'Connor said.

At this point, it's not known if the case will be heard locally.

[UrbanWaterloo]

It goes without saying mistakes were made here, I think not just financially but also the millennium concept (I would have preferred some of those funds being spent Uptown instead). What's done is done, but at least we do have a good sports facility, I just find it isn't used to it's full potential. Instead of having political draws (ie. like the New Year's levee) which should be happening Uptown, what RIM Park needs is more sporting events. The Region really should make a push for the 2025 Canada Games and in this decade we should be hosting the Ontario Games (will need to start a thread for this); both of which could be based or have a presence at RIM Park. We need to turn this into a bigger economic/tourism generator for the area.

Also transit to RIM Park is absolutely terrible: no evening or weekend service. I'd support having a few apartment towers built around here in order to boost ridership & service.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Premium Outdoor Sports Field Facility - August 25, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Sports%20and%20Recreation/RIMParkPremiumOutdoorSportsFieldFacility-August252010-5a.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Sports%20and%20Recreation/RIMParkPremiumOutdoorSportsFieldFacility-August252010-5b.jpg

[IEFBR14]

Waterloo loses key round in battle over lawsuit expenses (http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/819934)
The City of Waterloo lost a key ruling Thursday in a six-year battle to keep the costs of its RIM Park lawsuits secret.

A three-judge panel soundly and swiftly rejected arguments by the city that releasing its legal expenses could reveal strategy or privileged communication with its lawyers.

Issued after a divisional court hearing that took less than two hours, the decision leaves intact two orders by the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario to disclose the costs to The Record.

Waterloo has 15 days to decide whether to seek leave to appeal the ruling to the Ontario Court of Appeal.

If it does not appeal, the city has agreed to release its legal tab at the end of that 15-day period.

The Record has been trying since the fall of 2004 to find out how much the city is spending on a series of lawsuits stemming from the botched RIM Park financing deal.

Freedom-of-information requests were flatly denied by the city on the grounds that revealing its expenses would arm adversaries with valuable information to fight the lawsuits.

The Record appealed those refusals to the privacy commission, which ruled in 2008 that release of the information – simple dollar figures for legal fees – would not violate solicitor-client privilege.

That decision was based largely on established case law, including rulings by the Supreme Court of Canada and the Ontario Court of Appeal.

Meanwhile, The Record also asked the city for its legal costs to fight the main requests for expenses in the RIM Park lawsuits.

The city refused that request as well, citing solicitor-client privilege again.

After another appeal by The Record, an adjudicator for the privacy commission also ordered Waterloo to release those costs in 2009.

The city then challenged both privacy commission orders in divisional court, arguing they were wrong and should be set aside.

Its application to quash the orders was opposed by The Record and the privacy commission.

David Steele, a lawyer for the city, argued at the hearing Thursday that there are “hypothetical” situations in which the release of legal costs could give opponents in litigation an advantage.

If, for instance, costs were much lower than expected, Steele said, defendants could discern “a lack of concentrated effort” and use that information to plot strategy or as leverage in negotiations.

The three judges, however, said adjudicators for the privacy commission correctly rejected hypothetical possibilities as a basis to keep legal costs under wraps.

They pointedly asked Steele how communication between the city and its lawyers could be revealed by the release of legal costs – undated dollar figures on 11 pieces of paper – in this specific case.

When he was unable to explain, the judges said they didn’t need to hear any submissions from The Record or the privacy commission.

The panel then retired and returned with a unanimous decision half an hour later.

The orders technically apply only to legal expenses at points in time that are now years past – 2004 for the lawsuits and 2008 for efforts to deny the freedom-of-information requests.

In light of Thursday’s ruling, however, The Record is requesting a total figure for legal expenses up to the present time.

After the decision, Waterloo agreed to pay $7,500 toward The Record’s legal costs to oppose the divisional court challenge.

The lawsuits at issue involve a deal struck in 2000 to finance construction of a sprawling recreation complex in the city’s northeast corner.

City councillors thought they were agreeing to make $112.9 million in payments over 30 years. In fact, the deal committed the city to $227.7 million.

The city sued MFP Financial Services, the company that arranged the financing, and a second company that bought most of the debt from MFP.

An out-of-court settlement in those lawsuits reduced the city’s obligation to $145.7 million – still $32.8 million more than expected.

After an entirely new council was elected in the wake of the fiasco, the current lawsuits were launched in 2004 in a bid to recoup the city’s remaining losses.

They also triggered a web of counterclaims and third-party claims.

Some of the lawsuits have since been abandoned, but Waterloo is still suing John Ford, the city’s treasurer when the deal was signed, and several employees of MFP, which now operates under a different name.

City officials said after the lawsuits were started in 2004 that they would disclose all legal costs once they were settled.

The Record has long maintained that taxpayers need to know how much the lawsuits are costing to decide if they are a wise investment and should be pursued.
Brenda, it's time to stop the stonewalling. (Actually it was time to stop the stonewalling four years ago when you were first elected.)

[UrbanWaterloo]

Waterloo releases information on RIM Park litigation costs
December 3, 2010 | Link (http://www.waterloo.ca/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=78&mid=526&def=News%20Article%20View&ItemId=1434)

The City of Waterloo today released financial information related to requests made through the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). The City is responding to requests for costs of legal services related to the RIM Park lawsuits.

The City appealed a 2008 decision by the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC), which directed the City to release the information related to the MFIPPA requests. The appeal was dismissed by the Divisional Court on Nov. 25, 2010. The City has released the requested information today in compliance with the 2008 and 2009 orders of the IPC.

In complying with the orders, the City released the costs for legal services invoiced up to Nov. 4, 2004, totaling $730,624.67, and legal fees invoiced up to May 5, 2008 in the amount of $15,711.26 for legal service related to the MFIPPA request.

The City has a practice in place of keeping costs associated with litigation confidential until all related litigation is completed. This practice is in place to protect the City’s interests in the legal process.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Agreement with Toronto Dominion Bank for City of Waterloo GreenLab - Phase One
Finance & Strategic Planning Committee Meeting January 17, 2011 | Packet Pages 13-21 (http://www.waterloo.ca/Portals/57ad7180-c5e7-49f5-b282-c6475cdb7ee7/CS_CLERKS_Minutes_2011/20110117_Packet_Finance_and_Strategic_Planning_Com mittee_Meeting.pdf)

47020319&access_key=key-1aq0r987gxvpp03om0z8&page

[UrbanWaterloo]

Waterloo releases information on RIM Park litigation costs
March 22, 2011 | City of Waterloo | Link (http://www.waterloo.ca/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=78&mid=526&def=News%20Article%20View&ItemId=1508)

The City of Waterloo has released financial information related to requests made through the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).

The city is responding to requests received for costs of legal services related to the RIM Park lawsuits and complying with an order of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC).

In complying with the orders, the city is releasing the total dollar figure for the city's legal fees in the RIM Park lawsuits, as contained in legal accounts paid in respect of the subject litigation, including fees, disbursements and taxes from December 2003 to May 5, 2008, which amounts to $2,878,696.43.

The City of Waterloo is seeking to recover millions of dollars in damages through legal proceedings pertaining to the financing of RIM Park.

It is the city’s practice to keep costs associated with litigation confidential until the litigation is completed. This practice is in place to protect the city’s interests in the legal process.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Sports Expo (http://www.waterloo.ca/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=78&mid=526&def=News%20Article%20View&ItemId=1548)

http://www.waterloo.ca/Portals/57ad7180-c5e7-49f5-b282-c6475cdb7ee7/NEWS_images/2011_04_11_SportsExpo.gif

[plam]

Upfront Cost: $56.7 million


I was just thinking about cost overruns and how often they happen. The big problem for RIM Park was a financing cost overrun.

Anyone know about whether there was a construction cost overrun? I'm not aware of any such thing. Then again, $56.7M is much smaller than, say, $818M. But it would be good to have some understanding about how often cost overruns happen here.

[justcallmejuice]

Grey Silo definitely isn't the same course since GolfNorth took it over. the prices have gone up and the course isn't as pristine as it used to be. really unfortunate, it was such a great course.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Celebrating RIM Park’s 10th anniversary
November 22, 2011 | City of Waterloo | Link (http://www.waterloo.ca/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=78&mid=526&def=News%20Article%20View&ItemId=1689)

The City of Waterloo is marking RIM Park’s 10th anniversary this month by inviting residents to participate in fun activities and attend an open house at the facility.

“I encourage everyone to join in the festivities and celebrate RIM Park’s 10th anniversary with us,” said Mayor Brenda Halloran. “It has been exciting to watch this world-class facility evolve over the past decade, and this is a great opportunity to look back on where it all began.”

The public is invited to a free public skate and open house at RIM Park on Nov. 27 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Those who attend can take a peek at a collection of photos on the facility’s history that will be on display in the lobby.

The city also is asking residents to submit stories, pictures and videos that reflect their favourite memories of RIM Park. Details are available on the city’s website at www.rimpark.ca/10years.

And those who are at the facility between Nov. 18 and Dec. 16 can test their RIM Park IQ by answering trivia questions that are running on the electronic screens in the Manulife Financial Sportsplex.

Located in the city’s northeast side, RIM Park is a 500-acre facility that features outdoor sports fields, a multi-purpose recreation building, trails, parkland, a golf course, heritage elements, public art and much more. It also provides one of the longest stretches of public access to the Grand River shoreline.

“The amenities at RIM Park have been enjoyed by millions of people over the past 10 years,” said Chris Cressman, the facility’s manager. “It’s the number 1 destination in Waterloo for many indoor and outdoor activities. We look forward to continuing to provide these opportunities for the community in the future.”

For more information on the anniversary activities, go to www.rimpark.ca/10years.


700

[UrbanWaterloo]

City of Waterloo reaches settlement in RIM Park financing lawsuits
May 03, 2012 | City of Waterloo | Link (http://www.waterloo.ca/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=78&mid=526&def=News%20Article%20View&ItemId=1810)

The City of Waterloo has reached a $3-million settlement in its ongoing litigation over the financing of RIM Park.

“This is a turning point for the City of Waterloo,” said Mayor Brenda Halloran. “It’s time to put this issue behind us, while always remembering the lessons we have learned throughout the process.”

This settlement marks an end to all the litigation around the financing of RIM Park.

“Although this is not the outcome we had hoped for, we believe it’s the best path forward in consideration of the various factors in the litigation journey. The key factors that influenced the decision were the recovery of $3 million in settlement at this time, the cost of continued legal action, the risk of an unsuccessful judgment and the possibility of appeals,” Halloran said. “It has been a long journey, and council believes settling at this time is in the best interest of taxpayers.”

RIM Park, home of the Manulife Financial Sportsplex, is the city’s premier recreation and park complex. Visited by about one-million people a year, this popular 500-acre facility on the city’s northeast side features outdoor sports fields, a multi-purpose recreation building, trails, parkland, a golf course, heritage elements, public art and much more.

FACT SHEET

The following is a timeline of the key events pertaining to the RIM Park litigation:

1998‐1999: The city identifies need for a new recreational facility on the east side of Waterloo and assembles land which would eventually be home to four ice rinks, two gymnasiums, a field house, sports fields and a golf course.

Sept. 2000: Council authorizes the execution of leasing agreements for financing new recreation facilities. City council understood at the time that monies were advanced to the city with an anticipated 31‐year payback commitment of approximately $100 million with an effective annual interest rate of approximately 4.76%.

June 2001: City learns that actual obligations of the 31‐year repayment plan are approximately $227 million for an actual effective annual interest rate of approximately 9.2%. City commences an action against MFP Financial Services Limited, Dave Robson (a vice‐president of MFP at the time), Clarica Life Insurance Company and the Maritime Life Assurance Company (the “Earlier Action”).

Feb. 2002: Mediated settlement of the Earlier Action results in payments being reduced to approximately $145 million over 30 years.

March 2002: Council calls for an Inquiry into the financing of RIM Park.

Oct. 2003: The Honourable Justice Sills releases Report of the Waterloo RIM Park Inquiry.

Between 2002 and 2003: A number of proactive changes are made regarding how the city conducts financial transactions, including the creation of a finance and strategic planning committee of council and an audit committee.

2004: Additional lawsuits and claims regarding the RIM Park financing are commenced by the city.

Between 2004 and 2011: A number of Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act requests are made regarding the cost of legal services to date.

April 2012: City reaches a $3‐million settlement.

Statement by Mayor Brenda Halloran: May 3, 2012

Today the City of Waterloo is closing the doors on a difficult chapter in our history. We have reached a settlement of $3 million in our outstanding litigation over the financing of RIM Park.

As you all know, litigation of this nature often has restrictions on what the parties can say about the journey. That said, I can share the rationale behind this settlement as outlined in the minutes of settlement, which will be available on our website later today.

This city sought accountability – we have demonstrated this commitment through years of litigation. In reviewing our position and the process, we decided this settlement is in the best interests of you, the citizens of Waterloo.

To provide you with some context, the city was suing Mr. Ford and certain MFP Financial Services Ltd. employees and representatives. Mr. Ford also brought a claim over against MFP. To break the $3‐million settlement down for you, MFP is paying $2.5 million to the city to settle all claims against it, its employees and agents, among others, with no admission of liability. Mr. Ford and/or his insurance providers are paying $500,000 to the city, with no admission of liability.

At this point, we have spent $5.6 million on almost nine years of legal expenses associated with this litigation, and believe the time has come to close the book on this chapter in Waterloo’s history. We will not be pursuing a potentially costly and lengthy trial that has no guarantee of success.

Although this is not the outcome we had hoped for, we believe it’s the best path forward in consideration of the various factors in the litigation journey. The key factors that influenced the decision were the recovery of $3 million in settlement at this time, the cost of continued legal action, the risk of an unsuccessful judgment and the possibility of appeals. We believe settling at this time is in the best interests of our residents.

I truly see this as a turning point. It’s time for us to put RIM Park’s financing behind us and look to its future – I know it will be a bright one.

RIM Park has been open for over 10 years. In that short time span, it has evolved into a world‐class recreational and park facility that’s visited by about one‐million people each year.

They come to enjoy its recreational building, outdoor sports fields, trails, parkland, golf course, heritage elements, public art and more. It’s also home to international, national and provincial events.

I look forward to watching the facility’s evolution over the next decade. This is only the beginning.

I will now call on council to consider the recommendations before them, which includes two items:

Staff report FS2012‐028 – RIM Park litigation funding request
The bylaw confirming the settlement of the RIM Park litigation

92303864

[panamaniac]

For a net loss of how many millions, all in?

[mpd618]

For a net loss of how many millions, all in?

$2.6 million, as The Record headline helpfully points out (http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/717630--waterloo-loses-2-6m-in-rim-park-lawsuits). There's also the $45 million that the city is paying out over what it thought it was agreeing to at the beginning. I'm not sure whether the above dollar amounts are comparable inflation-wise.

[markster]

Were all $5.6 million in legal fees incurred after the mediation to reduce the cost to $145 million? I would consider any legal fees before then to be investment involved in reducing the cost of the park by $82 million, and well spent.

[panamaniac]

Plus the costs of the municipal bureaucracy involved in the matter over the years. Certainly well in excess of $50 million, all in. At least its a nice park......

[Osiris]

Plus the costs of the municipal bureaucracy involved in the matter over the years. Certainly well in excess of $50 million, all in. At least its a nice park......

Hate to go all Wikipedia on you, but do you have a source for that?

[panamaniac]

Hate to go all Wikipedia on you, but do you have a source for that?

Pure conjecture on my part - I doubt any precise figure will ever be known. It seemed to me however that the amount cited by the Record didn't include the cost of the access to info cases, nor the bureaucratic costs of the whole thing, which made $50 million plus seem as good a guess as any.