The new Prescott and Russell Residence is almost finished with some revisions to the project budget plan to deal with any unexpected expenses.
The United Counties of Prescott and Russell council (UCPR) approved recommendations in a finance department report that will ensure there are no further delays to the opening of the new Prescott and Russell Residence on Spence Street in Hawkesbury. The new UCPR-owned-and-operated long-term care retirement facility was scheduled to open in January 2025 for tenants to move over from the old Residence and new tenants to fill up the remaining vacancies. Modifications to the fire alarm system and also increases in costs for some phases of the project because of the pandemic delayed approval of the building’s occupancy permit.
The finance department report noted that construction work on the new Residence project “is in its final stage” now with final approval for occupancy hinging on results of municipal and provincial inspections. The report also noted that the project remains within its projected budget range but that is the potential for some additional costs depending on the results of the inspection reports.
The report included a recommendation for approval of a list of possible budget revisions for the new Residence project that the finance department can act on if they are necessary. Otherwise, the report noted, the finance department may be forced to present council with separate requests for more budget revisions if they are needed and so further delay the opening of the new Residence.
At the end of December 2025, about $4.1 million was transferred to the UCPR’s corporate building management reserve fund for dealing with all remaining contingencies related to finishing construction of the facility. As of end of April this year construction costs for the new Residence total $92,102,672, with a difference of $657,234 between that figure and approved construction budget of $92,759,906.
UCPR council approved the recommendation to allow the finance department flexibility in approving any budget contingency costs as and if needed for the new Residence project to avoid any further delays to opening the facility for occupation.
