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Audit Shows Rising Costs in Hartford

Hartford Yard Goats

An audit on Dunkin’ Donuts Park has been revealed, showing unsurprising results in regards to increasing costs. 

The future home of the Hartford Yard Goats (Class AA; Eastern League) has already seen its cost rise, as estimates in December foreshadowed a significant overage from the original $56 million cost. Developments that have unfolded since–including several delays and the cancellation of Hartford’s construction contract with Centerplan Cos. and DoNo, LLC–have certainly causes budget issues, which is confirmed by the audit.

According to the report,which was conducted by Hartford’s Internal Audit commission, the city has now invested a total of $71.7 million on Dunkin’ Donuts Park alone. When accounting for the entire Downtown North development that is taking place in the area surrounding the ballpark, that price jumps to $102.5 million. Per the Hartford Business Journal, the audit omits certain fund and resource allocations by the city since the construction contract was terminated in June:

That $102 million does not include ongoing costs related to the shutdown of the project in June when the city fired the developer, such as security and legal, fire and police protection. The sum also does not include the final cost to finish the work on the stadium, which is being determined by the city’s surety bond carrier, or costs associated with pending litigation, the report states.

The audit is based on the economic investment for the Downtown North “DoNo” development from inception through August.

The obvious issue at hand is how to finish the ballpark, something that Eastern League president Joe McEachern strongly urged the city to do during an appearance in the city on Thursday. Hartford mayor Luke Bronin recently declined Yard Goats owner Josh Solomon‘s offer to finish construction, stating that such a move would require a reimbursement from the city or insurer Arch Insurance. According to the audit, the city has exactly $4.4 million left to finish construction, but that does not include a $5 million invoice from Centerplan that was submitted in May.

RELATED STORIES: McEachern to Hartford: Finish the Ballpark!Hartford Mayor: No Thanks to Solomon’s Financial Offer; Yard Goats Release 2017 Sched; Solomon Offers to Pay for Ballpark Work; IFG: Over 180 Issues With Dunkin’ Donuts Park; Contractor: We Could Resume Hartford Ballpark in September; Work Set to Resume on New Hartford BallparkYard Goats Bring up Possibility of Leaving Hartford; Dunkin’ Donuts Park Will Not Open for 2016 SeasonFinally: Dunkin’ Donuts Park Spat Ends Up in CourtHartford, Team May Finish New Yard Goats Ballpark; Hartford Rejects Settlement Offer; Hartford Developer Pitches Ballpark Completion PlanFire Watch Unfolding at Dunkin’ Donuts ParkYard Goats Lay Off Four in Wake of Ballpark BreakdownNew Hartford Ballpark Now Insured; Hartford Ballpark Uninsurable After Developer Booted; Centerplan CEO: City Recklessly Terminated Contract; Yard Goats to Play Two Home Series in Binghamton;Tensions, Schedule Changes in Hartford; Hartford Stadium Authority Cancels Contract with Developer; When Will Hartford Ballpark Be Done? No One is Saying; Legal Issues Could Prevent Hartford Ballpark Opening This Season; New Deadline Targeted for Dunkin’ Donuts Park;Officials: New Hartford Ballpark Could Open Next Month;Hartford: We Doubt New Ballpark Will Open on Time; Dunkin’ Donuts Park Facing Potential Delay; New Hartford ballpark set for May 31 opening; Yard Goats to begin 2016 season on the road; Solomon: “Awful, depressing, disconcerting” ballpark situation; New Hartford ballpark opening delayed at least a month; New Hartford ballpark cost estimate: $10.3 million over budget; City: New Hartford ballpark may open late; Value engineering underway in Hartford

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