Grace demolition to cost $4.1M

Pending one final check of the math, a Hamilton company will demolish the former Grace Hospital on Windsor's west end.

Budget Environmental Disposal submitted the lowest of six bids to do the job. The company came in at $4.1 million. The highest bid was $9.5 million.

The city had estimated the project cost between $2 million and $4 million.

"It’s a little above what we thought, but it’s within range. It’s not that far above what our estimate was," city engineer Mario Sonego said. "We move forward at this point."

Sonego said the city budgeted for $4.175 million. That estimate, though, included security, consulting and project management, none of which are included in Budget's bid, according to Sonego.

Work is scheduled to begin within 7-10 days of the bid being finalized, which could happen this week.

Sonego said the city is committed to the hospital's demolition.

I think the community has wanted it and council has wanted it. We want to deliver on the project," Sonego said. "We made it clear to all the bidders we want to move on this."

Christina Murray of Budget said Tuesday that the company has 100 business days to finish the project.

During the 2011 election campaign, Premier Dalton McGuinty promised $2 million to clean up the site. The province, on several occasions since, maintained that money will still be available.