The proposed animal shelter in Habersham County has become a focal point of discussion over the past two years, particularly concerning its escalating construction costs. During a recent work session on October 21, Public Works Director Jerry Baggett provided an overview of the project’s financial evolution since its inception in 2018.
However, an updated report released on Friday, Oct. 25 from Habersham County Public Information intern Ashlyn Brady revealed details of the project and costs, including site concept drawings and future plans for the remaining property.
The 65.65 acre piece of property is located off of Old Athens Highway behind South Habersham Middle School in Cornelia.
The animal shelter is slated to occupy 10.8 acres with a total building area of 14,704 square feet. The estimated costs for the project have been broken down as follows:
- Site Preparation: $1,818,682 (approximately $123.68 per square foot)
- Building Construction: $5,743,391 (around $390.60 per square foot)
- Total Estimated Project Cost: $7,562,073 (equating to $514.28 per square foot)
In comparison, Fayette County recently completed a smaller animal shelter on 1.27 acres with a footprint of 6,000 square feet. The total construction cost for Fayette’s facility was $3,258,357, or $543.06 per square foot, indicating that while Habersham’s costs are higher overall, the per-square-foot figures are somewhat comparable.
Future Property Use
Beyond the animal shelter, concept plans indicate that the remainder of the property will be used for a new south end recreation facility. This larger facility aims to surpass the current amenities available at the Rec Department facility in Clarkesville, incorporating features such as tennis and pickleball courts, soccer fields, and trails for hiking and biking.
The project has been presented to the Georgia Mountain Regional Commission to explore potential grant opportunities for funding in the future.
Costs related to site engineering and infrastructure preparation for the animal shelter will benefit the Parks and Recreation project. The shelter project will cover necessary utilities like water and sewer and the road entrance.
The release states that all plans remain pending final approval of the Habersham County Board of Commissioners.
Project Timeline and Cost Evolution
The animal shelter project began in 2018 as part of a list compiled for SPLOST 7 capital projects. The facility was initially estimated at 7,650 square feet with a budget of $1.75 million. In 2022, the design was contracted to Croft and Associates, which adjusted the estimated construction cost to $2,677,500, focusing primarily on kennel space.
By 2023, the project saw a significant redesign to include additional features like storage, offices, and surgical areas, increasing the square footage to 16,427. This prompted a new cost estimate from consulting firm Axias, which projected expenses at $10,050,307.
In August 2024, the construction manager at risk, Sunbelt Builders, provided a preliminary maximum price of $9,962,606. The price factored in site preparation costs exceeding $2.3 million. However, a subsequent round of value engineering reductions led to a revised project cost of $7,562,073 by trimming excess expenses and reducing the facility’s size slightly.
Value Engineering Savings
Baggett outlined the value engineering savings during the commission work session, which totaled $2,400,533. A copy of his report can be viewed here. The reductions included:
- Site Adjustments: Savings of $219,702 through decreased parking and landscaping.
- Public Works Contributions: An additional savings of $405,425 through in-house services like tree removal and road construction.
- Building Reductions: Cutting costs by $1,619,654 through the elimination of certain features and downsizing the facility.
- Administrative reductions: A savings in administrative fees of $155,752 is due to the reduction in scope of the complete project.
Baggett suggested that a switch from a sloped to a flat roof could yield an additional savings of $363,250, potentially lowering the total project cost to just under $7.2 million.
