GILROY
– About 15 contractors and subcontractors met city officials at
Hanna and Seventh streets to view the site of the new police
station they are considering placing bids to build.
When city officials open bids on July 8, they will find out how
close their engineer’s estimate of $28 million is to reality.
GILROY – About 15 contractors and subcontractors met city officials at Hanna and Seventh streets to view the site of the new police station they are considering placing bids to build.
When city officials open bids on July 8, they will find out how close their engineer’s estimate of $28 million is to reality.
The good news for the city is that steel prices have stabilized, consultant Harris & Associates recently reported to city officials. The skyrocketing price of steel this spring, due to an rise in Chinese buying, drove the total cost estimate for the Gilroy Police Department’s new home up by about $2 million.
“We’re very hopeful” a responsible bid will come in under $28 million, city Facilities Development Manager Bill Headley said Friday, “but only the actual outcome will tell us if that’s true or not.”
Other issues include the fluctuating cost of cement and how busy subcontractors are, Headley said.
City officials first advertised for bids on June 4. No bids had been received as of Friday afternoon, Headley said.
Conditions are crowded in the current police station at 7370 Rosanna St. The new station is set to be built a block away, on the other side of City Hall at the corner of Hanna and West Seventh streets where contractors met with city officials Thursday.
After repeated criticism of the new design as a “Taj Mahal,” city and police officials cut millions of dollars in costs from the station plans, largely by moving one of two underground parking levels to the first floor and eliminating the third floor.
Headley said it was frustrating to do such a thorough review and then “get bit by the escalating cost of materials.”
Peter Crowley covers public safety for The Dispatch. You can reach him at pc******@************ch.com or 847-7109.
