Construction crews work on the foundation slab of the Jackson Street Center Monday afternoon. (The Vicksburg Post/PAT SHANNAHAN)

[02/27/01] Foundation work needed where the pool of the Jackson Street YMCA was located has added $22,398 to the cost of the city’s youth center being built on the site.

The change order approved by Vicksburg’s board Monday raises the total cost of construction to $1.6 million.

Work began across Monroe Street from Vicksburg Auditorium in November on the new Jackson Street Creative Resource Center.

The center will include a basketball court, two classrooms, and two tennis courts.

The 60-year-old YMCA building was donated to the city seven years ago but it collapsed and was cleared three years ago.

Construction was first estimated to cost $1.2 million, but when the first bids were received in 1998, the lowest was more than $1 million more than budget.

Changes were made in the design, such as scaling back the college regulation basketball court in the original plans, and after three attempts, the contract was awarded last year.

The center is expected to be completed in August.