Steeply rising costs have wreaked havoc on construction projects everywhere, as property owners come to terms with contractor bids and materials expenses that outstrip expectations — sometimes, by a lot. Locally, higher costs have forced Jefferson High School and Boulder Hot Springs to alter their building plans.
The latest victim is Youth Dynamics Inc. (YDI), which had planned to break ground this summer on a new group home in Boulder for its Alternative Youth Adventures (AYA) program serving at-risk youth.
YDI’s Jordan Evertz, clinic director of residential services, said that “some building materials and pricing are all over the place” for the planned expansion. YDI opted to reevaluate the project with its architect, SMA Architecture of Helena, and its general contractor, Golden Eagle Construction.
“We’re trying to be good stewards” of the capital raised for the project, Evertz said. That’s why we’ve had a delay.” As a result, YDI has changed some of the specifications for the new home. It has not determined a new timetable for construction.
The AYA program in Boulder serves up to 32 young people with mental health disorders, providing 24-hour supervision, treatment, advocacy, and family-style care.
The campus on the former Montana Development Center property includes four group homes. In the first phase of work that has been delayed, YDI expects to replace one of the homes with a new facility; a second phase is aimed at replacing a second home and making other improvements, adding a tennis court, sports court, pavilion and garden.
When completed, the project will bring the group homes closer to each other, moving two of the buildings farther from Highway 69.
Currently, two of the four homes are in operation. YDI closed one of the homes in 2021 and a second this summer, both for lack of qualified staff. Each home requires six full-time direct cre staff, including therapists and counselors, YDI said.
YDI said that a third home will reopen this month. It plans to fill the facility with clients gradually, allowing the young people to acclimatize to their new surroundings, according to Associate Clinical Director of Residential Services Megan Marsh.
