An Anchorage-based architect estimates a new “muniplex” including Haines Borough offices, a fire hall, police station and assembly chambers would cost the Haines Borough about $8.5 million to build.

The estimate does not include design, construction administration, furniture, fixtures, building permits, geological investigation or hazardous clean-up (if necessary).

Jason Gamache, an architect with McCool Carlson Green, provided estimates for one-story and two-story, 19,500-square-foot buildings. The two-story comes in at $8.56 million, the one-story at $8.38 million.

Mayor Stephanie Scott, who preferred the one-story option, said two-story buildings cost more because of the requirement of an elevator.

Scott said she is “not concerned” with where funding for the building will come from at this stage. She said getting an estimate from Gamache is one of the first of many steps that need to be completed before the borough could apply for grant funding.

“You have to have a project that’s been planned, engineered, spec’ed out in order to acquire the funds. You have to do that to be in the running for any funding, whatsoever. I don’t know where the money is going to come from,” Scott said.

The Master Plan Steering Committee will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the pricetag and Gamache’s preliminary renderings of the building.

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