| Project Scope: The North Lincoln Community
Center Advisory Board desired the Lincoln County Board of
Commissioners to sponsor a community facilities grant for the
renovation of the former Metcalf Elementary School in Etna,
Wyoming. The Advisory Board envisioned the renovation of the
former elementary school into a community center that could
support a variety of community programs, provide floor space for
local small businesses, and provide recreational opportunities
to local residents. In order to consider its sponsorship of the
grant application, Lincoln County desired to review a more
detailed analysis of the project to assess project feasibility.
| The feasibility study initially
defined a potential service area that primarily included the
communities of Etna, Freedom, Nordic Ranches, and the Town of
Star Valley Ranch. PPC examined existing land uses,
economic trends, and the potential for future community
growth within the service area. The potential need
for a community center in Etna was also evaluated in the
context of available community and public facilities in
the nearby communities of Alpine, Star Valley Ranch,
Thayne, Freedom and Etna. |
Metcalf School |
This analysis enabled PPC to identify unmet needs for commercial floor space, indoor
and outdoor recreational facilities, senior activities, and a
community gathering place. Potential facility needs were
quantified to determine potential floor space demands for
commercial leases, community events and meetings, community
education programs, and recreation.
A 6.5 acre site and related
32,565 square foot school building were inventoried and
evaluated in terms of their potential adaptability to support
the uses envisioned by the Advisory Board. PPC documented
observable building deficiencies and needed repairs. PPC
reviewed past building assessment reports and discussed needed
mechanical system improvements with maintenance management
representatives of the Lincoln County School District. A
conceptual floor plan was developed for the school building.
PPC also recommended furniture, fixtures and equipment that were
needed to support proposed building uses and estimated their
anticipated cost. This information, combined with cost
estimates obtained by the Advisory Board, were used by PPC to
develop an order-of-magnitude cost estimate for renovation of
the building.
PPC also prepared a projected
annual income statement and cash flow analyses for a 4-year
period to consider the capability of intended building uses to
support the future operation and maintenance of the proposed
community center building. These evaluations required PPC to
determine various building management and operation assumptions,
recommend strategies for deriving revenues from proposed
building uses, and prepare cost estimates. The preceding
information enabled PPC to provide Lincoln County and the
Advisory Board with an assessment of overall project
feasibility.
Wyoming’s State Land and
Investment Board subsequently approved the Lincoln County
community facility grant application. |
