ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 31, 1996 TAG: 9609030033
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
Town Council tentatively awarded the construction contract for the town's recreation center to R.L. Price Construction of Salem for $3.8 million in a special meeting Thursday.
The contract must pass a second reading, scheduled for Tuesday's regular council meeting. After that, construction could begin by mid-September, with the firm estimating one year to complete the project.
Price's bid was the second lowest of six submitted. The firm won the contract when the lowest initial bidder, Branch & Associates of Roanoke, withdrew when they realized they did not include a $155,000 allowance for subsoil analysis. Amending a bid after the deadline is not allowed. The initial bids ranged from $3.6 million to $4.1 million.
Council's decision marks the latest chapter in what has been a long travail for the town and its residents. The recreation center will be built at the site of the old Lowe's building on North Franklin Street, and council had planned to renovate that building at a cost of between $1 million to $2 million after buying it for $1.4 million. But the roof collapsed after a deep snow in January, allowing Christiansburg to collect a $600,000 insurance settlement but forcing the town to raze the building. Moreover, residents have criticized the recreation center because it does not include a swimming pool in the first phase.
LENGTH: Short : 33 linesby CNB