The temporary fence now around the American Legion Post 249 in the 200 block of East Yosemite Avenue in downtown Manteca may not come down in June.
June is the targeted completion date for renovation to the brick structure built in 1929.
Why the fence may stay up indefinitely has everything to do with what is shaping up to a $300,000 to $350,000 funding shortfall.
And it is a shortfall that Manteca Mayor Gary Singh indicated Monday that he’ll see if there is any way the city can help bridge the gap.
The Legion post secured $750,000 over 18 months ago from the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors to renovate the facility to wed with what funds the veterans group had at the time for what originally was projected to be an $800,000 project.
Given the $750,000 were federal COVID-19 relief pass through funding; it requires the use of a contractor that pays prevailing wages.
The process first got bogged down with architectural issues.
Once that was cleared up, a contractor was secured.
But then the contractor pulled out.
After a long delay, another contractor was obtained.
But by then the construction costs — as well as that for required commercial kitchen appliances and a solar power system — skyrocketed.
Concerned that further delays would continue to diminish the “buying power” of what funds they had, the Legion was able to work out an arrangements with the contractor.
DL Builders — a local contractor — agreed to start the work.
When the money runs out, they would stop work until the Legion secured additional funding.
Singh said he would also approach San Joaquin County District 3 Supervisor Sonny Dhaliwal to see if there was any way the county could help as well.
Singh indicated he would try to see what options are available to the city whether it is in the form or a loan or some type of arrangement that would allow the city to use the Legion Hall for community endeavors in exchange for helping bridge the gap.
As an example, given the Legion Hall has wooden floors it could be used for recreation dance classes and such.
Singh has also advocated a long-range endeavor that would expand the city’s presence of Moffat Boulevard around the Manteca Veterans Center it owns and leases to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
His vision is to add space at that site for the Legion and then swap that for the renovated Legion Hall.
The updated Legion Hall could then function as a city community center complete with the ability to promote the arts and endeavors to support downtown’s transformation into a community gathering place.
The Moffat site, in addition to the VFW and Legion halls, would have a veterans plaza as well as additional parking.
The Legion Hall, based on its pre-construction configuration, has a capacity for 110 people.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
