Dave Ruscio's Ruscio Masonry and Construction Ltd. was awarded a $10.2 million contract tonight to transform the former Sacred Heart School into a downtown social services hub.
The job was awarded to Ruscio after its original $12.5 million over-budget bid was shaved down in negotiations with District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board (DSSMSSAB).
The final vote on the contract was taken after a closed-door meeting Thursday night at which a legal opinion was received related to the negotiations.
"That's now the new negotiated number," DSSMSSAB chair Luke Dufour tells SooToday.
A men's shelter in the building at 721 Wellington Street East will have a minimum of 20 beds with 22 transitional rooms attached.
"We've never had men's transitional rooms before," Dufour told us.
"We have eight at the women's shelter that we did last summer."
"They have proved to be an asset, so we're going to do 22 for men here, as well as the full NRC [Neighbourhood Resource Centre], with doctor's offices, and all of the programming space that the old NRC partners wanted."
The building will also serve as a downtown ambulance base.