FOLLOWUP: Construction begins for Alki Beach restroom rebuild

Thanks to James for the tip! The fence is up, heavy equipment has arrived, and that means construction is starting for the Alki Beach restroom rebuild along the Alki Trail at 57th SW [map]. It’s been two years since first word of the project, which will replace the two-restroom building with one that incorporates three individually accessed all-gender restrooms that meet ADA requirements. The ~$638,000 project is happening about a year later than the original (pre-pandemic) schedule. Burien-based JEM Contractors is the construction company, and Seattle Parks project manager Kelly Goold tells WSB they’re aiming to be done by early summer.

West Seattle Lurker January 21, 2021 (7:11 pm)

This to make the restrooms compliant with the 1990 ADA Act? Why did something like this take 30 years to get funded?

CC January 21, 2021 (9:03 pm)

How on earth does it cost that much to build a restroom???

flimflam January 21, 2021 (10:01 pm)

seriously – over a 1/2 million dollars.
Peter January 21, 2021 (11:39 pm)

What was your bid for the project and what was your bid based on?

Dave January 21, 2021 (10:59 pm)

To do it right…and this IS a public facility… and built to make it last 40 -50 years…cheap…..

CC January 22, 2021 (6:13 pm)

Thanks! I was surprised that would cost as much as a house; I didn’t really consider how much more durable it would need to be to put up with daily use and abuse.

MSW January 21, 2021 (11:17 pm)

Wow, you can rent a lot of portable toilets for a number of years with that kind of money.

Peter January 21, 2021 (11:42 pm)

Oh, so you added up the cost of ADA compliant portables for the life of the project. What did that come to?
- Pelicans January 22, 2021 (7:04 am)
  
  @PeterI’m really curious why you are questioning citizens’ inquiries into the cost of this project. $600,000 plus is one helluva lot for a beach restroom, and we have the right to know why we have to pay that much.
  - flimflam January 22, 2021 (10:32 am)
    
    seriously. you could build a couple of houses for that price.
  - KBear January 22, 2021 (10:43 am)
    
    No, it is not a lot of money for a public project. It has to be built to a much greater standard of durability than a residential restroom. I think if you tried to build something similar in your home, it would cost about the same. And if you consider how many people will be using it, the cost per use is quite low.
    - CC January 22, 2021 (6:06 pm)
      
      Thanks! I was genuinely curious, not trying trying to criticize.
- MSW January 22, 2021 (8:06 pm)
  
  They can get bids for standard and ADA portables and compare. Long term contracts you can negotiate better pricing. If someone trashes one of these toilets, they can replace them quickly. I bet for the price, you can have more toilets and at different locations. With this rebuild you still have only 1 facility.

Kyle January 22, 2021 (8:10 am)

Will this restroom stay open year round once completed?

Buddy January 22, 2021 (9:45 am)

Need more toilets 🚽 and more toilets along the walkway along Alki for us old people who got to pee all the time. Self cleaning each time after someone uses the toilet would be nice!

Junction Lady January 22, 2021 (12:07 pm)

Overdue project! The current facility is disgusting. I trust lots of planning has gone into the details of the new structure.

DD January 22, 2021 (1:52 pm)

You don’t think that over $2200 a square foot shouldn’t be questioned?

Pelicans January 26, 2021 (3:29 pm)

Anen!

Duffy January 22, 2021 (3:08 pm)

Welcome to seattle, where literally everything is ridiculously expensive. Profiteering at its finest.

JVP January 23, 2021 (7:42 am)

I agree everything in Seattle is ridiculously expensive. I say this as someone who is a small part of a team who builds things here. I’m not convinced it’s due to profiteering.

Not specific to this project: 1) It’s expensive to live anywhere near here, so construction workers get paid a lot more than other places. 2) The city codes are ridiculously stringent, which costs money, lots of money (we do need ADA accessibility for a restroom like this, but there’s always other stuff they require that doesn’t make practical sense). 3) The city’s permitting process takes f o r e v e r, and the process isn’t smooth. This costs contractors/architects a ton of money. And of course 4) our city government isn’t good at pinching pennies.

CarDriver January 22, 2021 (4:38 pm)

To those questioning the cost. What should it cost??? Have to agree with Peter. I’m scratching my head as to why you won’t tell us what you think it could be built for. NOBODY stopped you from bidding.

CC January 22, 2021 (6:10 pm)

I don’t know how much it should cost, that’s why I asked :) Someone was kind enough to explain it in the comments. Apologies for not realizing my expression of surprise and curiosity would be confused for criticism.

Sorry, comment time is over.