The dream of restoring and updating the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum has previously been estimated to cost up to $30 million.
On Tuesday, the Vanderburgh County Commission approved the initial design phase. Prior to approval, Board President Justin Elpers shared the proposal for the record. He said the design fee proposal is to “complete design work for ADA, accessibility improvements, restroom renovations and miscellaneous building modifications for the Coliseum.”
Local firm Hafer Associates will produce architectural floor plans, but also plans for HVAC plumbing and electrical to bring it up to code, and of course ADA restroom compliance.
A percentage of the $120,700 will be billed monthly as plans are developed.
Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave previously stated that the building needs better loading docks and storage rooms.
On Tuesday she asked if there was a plan for funding the repairs once the plan was complete. “That is to be determined,” Elpers said. “We have some ARPA funds that need to be under contract going forward.”
In 2022 the county set aside $6 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for coliseum improvements that need to be used by the end of 2025.
The Coliseum has been closed for site work for most of 2024.
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