Santa Monica Flushes $5M For Beach Bathroom Renovation Project
SANTA MONICA (CBS) — Visitors to Santa Monica's popular beaches will surely appreciate seven newly renovated bathrooms that have so far cost taxpayers nearly $5 million.
The Public Works Department originally estimated renovations to eight bathrooms housing 112 stalls would be $3.6 million, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press. So far, 14 stalls at seven completed bathrooms have cost $50,700 each -- a total of $4,968,600.
The city was forced to replace eight bathrooms along the beaches after a class-action lawsuit was filed against the California Department of Parks and Recreation, claiming the bathrooms were not up to the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Santa Monica found eight 30-year-old facilities that needed major help to qualify as accessible under ADA, so the plan was to completely rebuild seven of those facilities and fix up one more, with an expected completion date of 2010, the Daily Press reported.
There were sewer backup problems when the first restroom opened, possibly due to increased use. To fix the sewer backups, three other companies were hired to inspect and replace sewer laterals and existing water mains, according to the Daily Press.
The last bathroom, whose design drew complaints and was sent back to the drawing board, is expected to open in 2013.
