Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 22, 1990                   TAG: 9006220004
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

PARKING LOT PROGRESS IS HALTED BY HIGH BIDS

Bids from construction companies were about twice as high as the $250,000 the town had budgeted for the project, said economic development coordinator Doug Eckel.

"It is very disappointing," said Eckel, who had worked for about two years with almost a dozen property owners to coordinate the improvements. "It was a bit of a shock that it was so much over."

The improvements include repaving the entire lot, planting trees, adding public parking spaces, pedestrian walkways, streetlights, park benches and redirecting the flow of traffic so that the lot no longer resembles a maze for motorists.

Eckel said the town received two bids; the lowest was $425,000.

With this year's construction season well under way, contractors would have had to rent equipment and hire extra workers, Eckel said, adding more to their estimate. Also, the tight deadline of about seven weeks jacked the price up.

The town wanted to finish the parking lot before Virginia Tech students return the week of Aug. 20.

"We have written the property owners and asked them to hang on until next year," Eckel said, and he is confident they will.

All but four owners had signed the contract this year, which Eckel said he will update for next year. Under the agreement, the town would keep money from the parking meters for five years to pay for the improvements.

After that, the property owners could keep the money from meters on their land or lease the spaces, Eckel said. Currently, the town and property owners share revenue and the town maintains the parking lot.

Eckel said the town plans to send bids out in January or February for next summer.