ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: October 4, 1999
Author/Local: G. Sutherland/C. Hosein/7565/7616
RTS No. 01044
CC File No. 4601

Council: October 19, 1999

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Manager of Facilities Development
SUBJECT:	New Continental Residence - 1067 Seymour Street - Repair Work

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council agree to receive a contribution of $858,000 from BC Housing toward repairs related to water penetration at 1067 Seymour Street at an estimated project cost of $2,800,000; the remaining funding to be provided by a CMHC contribution. No implementation work to commence until such federal funding is in place.

B . THAT Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. be appointed prime consultants for the repair work in the amount of $188,200 plus GST; source of funding to be the contribution from BC Housing.

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Corporate Services RECOMMENDS approval of A and B.

POLICY

· Consultant contracts over $30,000 require the approval of Council.
· Contracts are awarded on the basis of best value for the fee.

PURPOSE

This report seeks Council’s approval to accept funding contribution from BC Housing at this time and the federal government (CMHC) when it is received, toward repairs related to water penetration in the New Continental Residence at 1067 Seymour Street. It also seeks authorization to award the contract for consulting services for this repair to Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd.

BACKGROUND

The New Continental Residence, a City of Vancouver Housing Corporation owned, 110-unit, non-market facility is located at 1067 Seymour Street. It was constructed in 1991 in accordance with BC Housing standards of that time, which set out the maximum unit price for each suite and methods of construction. The building is a 15-storey concrete frame structure over three levels of underground parking. A two-storey brick street wall forms a podium for the residential tower clad with an Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS). Investigations for the recent Facilities Strategic Plan identified moisture problems beginning to appear with the ingress of water into the EIFS system.

DISCUSSION

A joint steering committee of BC Housing and the City of Vancouver was created to undertake the investigation and repair program. Proposals were invited from four consultant teams specialized in architectural-building envelope and engineering consulting services. On the basis of the submissions and interviews, the Committee concluded that Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. be recommended for the project for a fixed total fee of $188,200. Other consultants (cost, surveying, testing) will be hired directly by the City.

BC Housing has agreed to contribute $858,000 toward repair (Appendix A). Initial indications are that the repair and replacement of the EIFS with a rain screen system is likely to be required at an estimated cost (hard and soft) of $2.8 million dollars. Further investigation and design work are required to confirm and detail the repair program.

The local CMHC group has confirmed that the project has received support and that they are currently awaiting final approval for the remaining funds ($2.0 million) from Ottawa.

In view of concerns that the building might sustain serious damage if further water penetration occurs, it is recommended that analysis and design work commence immediately so that implementation work could be scheduled once the remaining funding is received. The work will be undertaken at not cost to the City.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver