An ongoing public project has finally finished after delays over the proposed cost of $1.7 million—and it was all for a public toilet. Yes, you read that right—a public toilet in Noe Valley was initially supposed to cost $1.7 million. The toilet officially opened to the public on April 15.
Thankfully, due to donations, the real cost came down to roughly $300,000, which still isn’t cheap, but it’s a far cry from the original estimate.
The Noe Valley Restroom Project garnered a lot of controversy when the early rough estimate for the custom, single-unit toilet for Noe Valley Town Square reached 1.7 million. Residents were shocked at the amount, and many called for the funds to go toward something else. The project also had an initial timeline of two years.
Recreation on Parks accepted a donation of a prefabricated unit and much of the labor, such as delivery, demolition, plumbing, and more.
“We are grateful to the Public Restroom Company and Volumetric Building Companies for their partnership and creativity, the Governor for his support, and most of all, the people of Noe Valley for their patience. It’s not easy navigating the city’s contracting and construction process, which, of course, is of small consolation when your 2-year-old needs a diaper change. We will fully support efforts by our city’s leaders to make small public works projects like this one — which aren’t always saved by philanthropy — less costly and more efficient to deliver. ” Stated Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg in response to the donation.
Why was the original estimate so high?
It’s pretty shocking to think that installing a single public restroom would cost 1.7 million. Rec and Parks made it clear this was just the first rough estimate, with another estimate coming in at $1.2 million. The savings made in the donations reveal some of the costs that go into the project, including construction, project management fees, and architecture fees. The donation had already been approved for use in California, which “eliminates the need for the city to conduct a bidding process or a pay a cost estimator,” according to a Rec and Parks statement.
In response to the criticism the project drew, Mayor London Breed as proposed legislation to streamline the process for smaller public projects. ““The Noe Valley toilet flushed-out park advocates’ long simmering frustration with the lengthy process and costs of delivering small park improvements,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg.” The new legislation aims to cut red tape that often laenghtens public works processes, while still maintaining construction standards.