Renovation costs double for temporary homeless men’s shelter

Inflation and the definition of needs have caused the quoted cost to renovate a temporary homeless men’s shelter, at 2002 Zeier Road, to double to $1.1 million, according to a Wisconsin State Journalreport. The preliminary estimate was based on a cost per square foot rather than on a detailed plan. Currently, Porchlight Inc., a Madison nonprofit, has been operating a temporary homeless shelter for men at the Fleet Services building on the near east side. However, the facility will be unavailable this fall when it is replaced by the $16.5 million Madison Public Market. In October, the city bought the former Gander Mountain store building for $2.6 million and provided another $580,000 for environmental studies, closing costs, and architectural and engineering services. The temporary shelter will serve as a stopgap until a permanent shelter can be built on a vacant, 2-acre, city-owned site at 1902 Bartillon Drive.