08/28/22 – Disappointing news to share; the Norwood project is on hold for now, pending changes in the very difficult construction climate in Austin. We expected to begin restoration construction by May or June, but after receiving a nearly 40% increase in the cost estimate, the initial phase is no longer affordable within the PARD-approved funding & phasing plan. It is what it is in our red-hot town and there is no getting around the outrageous cost of construction these days (pandemic delays/labor challenges/supply-chain disruptions). If you’ve tried to build anything lately, you know about this. As there does not appear to be a path to significantly lowering these costs in the near future, our civic project must join others that have also been postponed.
The long and devoted work of the Norwood Park Foundation stands! Starting with remediation of the Norwood House and grounds many years ago, the vision for this irreplaceable, publicly-owned asset is accomplished. Full architectural & landscape plans are completed; the 2-year journey to permit this very dynamic and difficult 2-tract site is finished; and there remains $3 million in voter-approved funding appropriated to Norwood. As disappointed as we at NPF are to not accomplish the initial restoration construction, ourselves, at this time – there is no reason it cannot be accomplished by a larger nonprofit or PARD itself forthwith! Norwood is shovel-ready for a more advantageous moment, patiently awaiting its transformation into a revenue-generating historic venue, and we will continue to seek ways to move it forward.