The Select Board on Tuesday heard an update on the Center School reuse project, which now has an expected price tag of $16.8 million.

Dan McIntyre, the chair of the Permanent Building Committee and a champion of the project, gave a presentation about the options that were considered for the Center School property, as well as for Elmwood School and the Fruit Street storage facility.

The Fruit Street storage facility was not considered to be a focus priority at this time, he said.

The Community Preservation Committee in December approved a $2 million request to draw funding from its historical preservation fund in the upcoming fiscal year. The $2 million was expected to cover the demolition of the two additions behind the front structure of Center School, which was built in 1928.

The public-private partnership for the reuse of Center School initially was anticipated to cost $10 million. The Hopkinton Center for the Arts was approved as the private partner. It was expected to contribute $4 million, with the town paying the remaining $6 million.

In late March, McIntyre told the CPC that the projected cost had ballooned to $16.6 million. He explained that the cost for the demolition portion of the project rose once local architectural firm Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects (GRLA) submitted schematic designs in March.

Since then, the cost has risen to $16.8 million.

“We specifically set up our [architectural evaluation] services contract to do a schematic design phase before we go into a detailed design phase because we wanted to get this more accurate estimate,” McIntyre said. “So when we get into the next, more detailed design phase, we know where we need to focus on to try to bring those costs back down.”

Members noted the strong public support for the project as well as the town’s need for more office and facility space. Brian Herr noted that the cost of leaving Center School dormant while future options are considered would lead to higher costs down the line.

Member Amy Ritterbusch questioned if the 1928 portion of the building would be sealed after the demolition of the two newer structures behind it. McIntyre said it would be sealed with temporary cladding.

“The next time I’m before you, I’m committed to bring that $16.8 million cost down,” said McIntyre.

Elmwood School options reviewed

McIntyre also mentioned several options for Elmwood School. The school is set to be replaced by Charleswood School, now under construction off Hayden Rowe Street. One would be to allow the Parks & Recreation Department to use the building for programming because of the gym. Another would be to demolish the building but retain the property for future town needs. The third would be to sell it, which would mean it most likely would be used for housing development.

Another proposal was to move Town Hall to the Elmwood School site. That would cost $50 million, according to McIntyre.

“That takes up money that no one has an appetite to spend,” he said.

“I’m really glad that we’re planning for Elmwood School now,” said Ritterbusch, “because we waited too long to start planning for Center School.”

She added that she supported funding a study for its reuse.