Design contract gets OK

The target date to move JFS to Oakhill is about June 1.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Building Commission has agreed to pay Olsavsky-Jaminet Architects of Youngstown up to 450,000 to design and oversee renovations to the space the county's Department of Job and Family Services will occupy at Oakhill Renaissance Place.
The firm will be compensated at various hourly rates for the services of different types of professionals on its staff, with the total not to exceed 50,000 during the initial floor-plan design, which is expected to be completed in December, Atty. David Comstock Sr., commission chairman, said Monday.
For later design work and supervision of the renovation, Olsavsky-Jaminet will be paid 9 percent of the renovation cost, not to exceed 400,000. This means the architectural firm's maximum possible compensation would be 450,000 for the entire project.
9 percent of total
If the renovation costs turn out to be 5 million as estimated by architect Ray Jaminet, the 450,000 figure would be 9 percent of total renovation costs, Comstock said. The project calls for renovating 100,000 square feet at 50 per square foot.
Located at 345 Oak Hill Ave., Oakhill is the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center. The county bought Oakhill in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in late July and plans to convert it into a government center.
Comstock said he hopes JFS can move from its rented quarters at Garland Plaza, 709 N. Garland Ave., to Oakhill around June 1, 2007.
The building commission chose Olsavsky-Jaminet from three finalists to design the JFS space after five firms applied for the job.
County Administrator George Tablack said he will seek financing for the project in the bond market in December.
JFS vision
Jaminet said he envisions JFS client services functions on Oakhill's first floor, with JFS administration on the third floor because the city health department occupies the second floor. Where possible, Jaminet said, he envisions keeping the former hospital rooms intact and converting their restrooms into closets to reduce project costs.
"What we're trying to do is minimize how many walls we remove," Jaminet said. "We're going to try to use as many existing spaces as we possibly can use within reason."