Discussion:
The former city hall contains hazardous substances for which the city is the owner. The proposed demolition will remove those substances and properly dispose of them. The building continues to deteriorate and the interior air quality has been compromised.
The demolition will open the site for redevelopment and clear a potential blight from the downtown and reduce the city's liability for a vacant structure and the requirements to winterize the structure. Prior to demolition, city staff will be removing boilers and possibly a rooftop unit that may be installed at Public Works.
RJM Companies, acting as the city's project manager, solicited bids for the abatement, demolition and earthwork required to remove the existing structure. There were seven bids received ranging from the low bid of $191,800 to the high bid $391,500. There were four bids between $191,800 and $206,203. The demolition and removal is a good winter project for demolition companies. The structure would be abated and removed by late January.
As part of the demolition process, the existing basement will be demolished but the exterior basement walls and footings will remain three feet below the surface. There was concern that if those walls were removed, the railway, street, and alley (and utilities) could collapse into the hole. The interior will be filled with structural material and compacted so that it will be pad ready for future development.
Staff is also recommending that the sidewalks surrounding the building be replaced in Spring because of winter curing issues with the concrete.
If approved, the contractor will be fencing off the existing parking lot and will stage most of the demolition from the lot including filling trailers. After demolition, staff will have to evaluate the condition of the lot to see if it can be reopened.
The Request for Proposals for redevelopment of the site are due back in January and we may have a possible developer that could take over the property in late summer or early fall.
Frattalone Companies was founded in 1970 and now is run by the second generation of the family. Frattalone is capable of providing a one stop solution since they can do the demolition, environmental remediation and also have their own recycling and landfill operation.
Frattalone Companies has completed work throughout Minnesota and the Midwest including the demolition of the MetroDome. They were able to achieve a recycling rate of over 80% on that particular job.