St. Lawrence Market building cost rises

City will have to pay another $9.5 million to ensure contractor doesn't pull out of project

- MAHDIS HABIBINIA

The city will have to pay an extra $9.5 million to the contractor behind the new St. Lawrence Market north building to prevent it from pulling out of the project which would delay its opening and potentially filing a lawsuit against the city.

The unanticipated added costs owed to the contractor for the project that was approved more than 15 years ago are a result of changes that a former city manager improperly approved, according to city staff at a recent committee meeting.

City documents say that the need for the additional money was "primarily driven" by costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and "errors and omissions" from the prime architect, among other things.

At a meeting of city council's general government committee on July 2, staff shed new light on the added cost.