River's Edge parking ramp bids within budget
Construction on the parking ramp by River’s Edge Convention Center could begin as soon as Tuesday if St. Cloud City Council accepts a batch of bids Monday night.
Patrick Shea, public services director, is recommending City Council approve the bids received for the project, which came in under the amount of $11.56 million the city received from the state to construct the ramp. Total project costs are estimated at $10.33 million — about $1.23 million under budget.
In June, the City Council rejected the first round of bids, the lowest of which came in at about $17.4 million. In August, HMA Architects presented to the council a more economical design that stripped away plans for a convention center ballroom and lower-level parking, and downsized the elevator and the stair towers.
The ramp will go on what is now a surface parking lot at Fifth Avenue and First Street North. The ramp will be elevated across Fifth Avenue.
The city received 19 bid packages for the project. Shea is recommending City Council approve the 17 low-bid packages and reject the two single-bid packages, which are for painting and elevator equipment. If the City Council approves the resolution Monday, the two single-bid packages could be rebid Tuesday, Shea said.
“The plan is to work through the winter, with an opening by the end of 2016,” Shea said. “Even on Tuesday, some of the asphalt could be ripped up and the construction staging could go into place.”
Construction crews plan to do excavation work before the ground freezes, Shea said, noting that it would probably be 30-45 days until the larger construction equipment arrives on site.
Donlar Construction is the project’s at-risk manager, meaning it is responsible for assisting with design services and bidding, and will manage the project and project budget at a guaranteed cost. Shea is also recommending City Council approve Monday a resolution awarding the project to Donlar Construction at the guaranteed maximum price of $10.33 million.
The project budget includes spandrel panels, which are wall panels made of precast concrete. Architect Murray Mack had eliminated the concrete panels from the project before it was rebid, but said he hoped the spandrels could be included for aesthetic reasons. Without the spandrels, cables alone would contain cars and people in the ramp.
Shea said the city plans to spend all of the $11.56 million, and could add on projects such as landscaping once the ramp is built.
“We’ll spend the full budget, not less than and not more,” Shea said.
Reported by: SCTimes.com
Patrick Shea, public services director, is recommending City Council approve the bids received for the project, which came in under the amount of $11.56 million the city received from the state to construct the ramp. Total project costs are estimated at $10.33 million — about $1.23 million under budget.
In June, the City Council rejected the first round of bids, the lowest of which came in at about $17.4 million. In August, HMA Architects presented to the council a more economical design that stripped away plans for a convention center ballroom and lower-level parking, and downsized the elevator and the stair towers.
The ramp will go on what is now a surface parking lot at Fifth Avenue and First Street North. The ramp will be elevated across Fifth Avenue.
The city received 19 bid packages for the project. Shea is recommending City Council approve the 17 low-bid packages and reject the two single-bid packages, which are for painting and elevator equipment. If the City Council approves the resolution Monday, the two single-bid packages could be rebid Tuesday, Shea said.
“The plan is to work through the winter, with an opening by the end of 2016,” Shea said. “Even on Tuesday, some of the asphalt could be ripped up and the construction staging could go into place.”
Construction crews plan to do excavation work before the ground freezes, Shea said, noting that it would probably be 30-45 days until the larger construction equipment arrives on site.
Donlar Construction is the project’s at-risk manager, meaning it is responsible for assisting with design services and bidding, and will manage the project and project budget at a guaranteed cost. Shea is also recommending City Council approve Monday a resolution awarding the project to Donlar Construction at the guaranteed maximum price of $10.33 million.
The project budget includes spandrel panels, which are wall panels made of precast concrete. Architect Murray Mack had eliminated the concrete panels from the project before it was rebid, but said he hoped the spandrels could be included for aesthetic reasons. Without the spandrels, cables alone would contain cars and people in the ramp.
Shea said the city plans to spend all of the $11.56 million, and could add on projects such as landscaping once the ramp is built.
“We’ll spend the full budget, not less than and not more,” Shea said.
Reported by: SCTimes.com
