Washington Business Journal
Friday, February 13, 2009
In Focus: Architecture
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/02/16/focus1.html?b=1234760400^1777502&page=1
In November, Arlington County Public Schools got voters’ approval for an $83 million bond issue to rebuild Yorktown High School. Combined with the $24 million approved in 2006 for Yorktown’s needs, the school had $107 million for an ambitious project to replace virtually every building and add big-ticket items like technology-enabled classrooms and a new aquatics center.
The school system expected to spend $90 million to $93 million on construction costs, said schools Superintendent Robert Smith. The only question was when to send the project out for bids.
School system officials went to bid at the end of the year. And were they ever glad they did.
“When we opened the bids on Jan. 14, it was more like $65 million, instead of $94 million,” Smith said.
Even the highest bid was just $75.3 million. “I’d say ‘elated’ is an understatement,” Smith said.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Recession Lowers School Construction Costs
Business - Daily Business Report
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009
http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/705625.html
By Jim Warren - jwarren@herald-leader.com
"Fayette County Public Schools are reaping the benefits of Lexington's sliding construction market."
"The city school board awarded contracts for renovations of two Lexington elementary schools Monday night based on bids that came in about $3.6 million below estimates made last fall."
"Fayette board members awarded a contract to Lexington's D.W. Wilburn Inc. for renovation of Cassidy Elementary School for a total cost of just over $11 million. Last October, school officials had estimated the cost would be about $13.8 million."
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009
http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/705625.html
By Jim Warren - jwarren@herald-leader.com
"Fayette County Public Schools are reaping the benefits of Lexington's sliding construction market."
"The city school board awarded contracts for renovations of two Lexington elementary schools Monday night based on bids that came in about $3.6 million below estimates made last fall."
"Fayette board members awarded a contract to Lexington's D.W. Wilburn Inc. for renovation of Cassidy Elementary School for a total cost of just over $11 million. Last October, school officials had estimated the cost would be about $13.8 million."
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
More Resignations from Financial Oversight Committee Raise Questions
In recent days, two more members of the Financial Oversight Committee have resigned in protest over the Riverdale School Board's approach to the building project at RGS. This makes three members who have resigned since mid-January. The reasons for these resignations range from disagreement with how bond funds are being managed, to lack of true oversight authority by the committee, to misrepresentation of the committee's support for demolition of the Doyle building.
These resignations follow the December resignations from the Riverdale Foundation of two long-time supporters (and the past president) of the Foundation. These resignations were again in protest over School Board policies relating to the building plan at RGS.
These resignations point to serious problems with the management of our $20M. Every citizen and taxpayer should be concerned with these ominous developments. Something is desperately wrong in Riverdale.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
February 20 Letter to Riverdale Community
Please visit the Preserve Riverdale website (preserveriverdale.org) to read the February 20, 2009 letter to the Riverdale Community from Preserve Riverdale. The letter seeks to clarify the many misconceptions about the goals of Preserve Riverdale.
Please support our call for a ballot measure on May 19 to clarify how voters wish bond funds to be spent: demolish or renovate the Doyle building.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Doyle Safety & Hazardous Materials
Please note that LeRoy Landers, the lead Mahlum architect working with the District, assured the audience on November 19 that all hazardous materials that exist within the Doyle building can be safely removed from the building if it is remodeled. Asbestos, lead, etc. would be entirely removed without danger to children. This is done all the time during remodeling of buildings and is not an issue.
Rumors to the contrary are inaccurate.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Slow Economy Brings in Lower Bid for New Florida School Construction
Linda Trimble, News-Journal
November 19, 2008
FLORIDA: The economic slowdown that's sparked deep budget cuts has finally produced a bonus for the Volusia County School Board with an elementary school construction bid coming in $3.5 million lower than expected. The board agreed to hire Mark Construction Company of Longwood to build the new school at Hazen Road and Plymouth Avenue in DeLand for $14.987 million. The architect's cost estimate was $18.5 million, and the board is spending $18.3 million to build a Hurst Elementary replacement from the same basic design. The Hurst project was bid about a year ago, facilities director Pat Drago said, and included $800,000 worth of fill dirt for its site off LPGA Boulevard in Daytona Beach. No fill was needed for the DeLand site, she said.
Drago attributed the lower than expected price to a highly competitive bidding environment with construction companies scrambling for business in the slumping economy. Fourteen companies bid on the DeLand elementary school project. That's a stark contrast to just two years ago when construction projects were plentiful and a new high school in Orange City attracted only one bidder the first time around. The board rejected that $99.3 million price as too expensive and rebid the project with some changes. It got two bids the second time around and the board agreed to pay $95 million -- the most ever for a Volusia school -- to build the high school that's now expected to open in August 2010.
November 19, 2008
FLORIDA: The economic slowdown that's sparked deep budget cuts has finally produced a bonus for the Volusia County School Board with an elementary school construction bid coming in $3.5 million lower than expected. The board agreed to hire Mark Construction Company of Longwood to build the new school at Hazen Road and Plymouth Avenue in DeLand for $14.987 million. The architect's cost estimate was $18.5 million, and the board is spending $18.3 million to build a Hurst Elementary replacement from the same basic design. The Hurst project was bid about a year ago, facilities director Pat Drago said, and included $800,000 worth of fill dirt for its site off LPGA Boulevard in Daytona Beach. No fill was needed for the DeLand site, she said.
Drago attributed the lower than expected price to a highly competitive bidding environment with construction companies scrambling for business in the slumping economy. Fourteen companies bid on the DeLand elementary school project. That's a stark contrast to just two years ago when construction projects were plentiful and a new high school in Orange City attracted only one bidder the first time around. The board rejected that $99.3 million price as too expensive and rebid the project with some changes. It got two bids the second time around and the board agreed to pay $95 million -- the most ever for a Volusia school -- to build the high school that's now expected to open in August 2010.
Oregonlive Update/ No Clarification Vote Planned
NEWS UPDATE
Monday, February 09, 2009
The Oregonian
The issue: Voters in the Riverdale School District approved a $20 million bond measure in November to pay for a new K-8 school building. Weeks later, a group of residents urged the district to consider renovating the school instead of replacing it. Designed by prominent Portland architect A.E. Doyle, the 1920s building has a cupola and arched windows.
For more than 18 months, board and community members have discussed how to upgrade the building. In December, the board decided 4-1 to tear down the building and build anew, saying rebuilding the campus was a better financial and educational option.
What's new: A group of the district's registered voters sent a letter to the school board, asking for a "clarification vote" to see whether residents of the Dunthorpe neighborhood would still support the bond knowing that the main building will be razed.
Ninety-two residents signed a petition saying the November election was "tainted" because the ballot title included a commitment to "upgrade, renovate and replace" the school and wasn't clear that full-scale demolition was an option. The group has formed a nonprofit -- Preserve Riverdale -- to fight the demolition and will request the Doyle building be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For information, go towww.preserveriverdale.org.
What's next: Riverdale School Board Chairman Chris Hall said the board received the letter but has no plans to pursue a second vote on the bond issue.
Monday, February 09, 2009
The Oregonian
The issue: Voters in the Riverdale School District approved a $20 million bond measure in November to pay for a new K-8 school building. Weeks later, a group of residents urged the district to consider renovating the school instead of replacing it. Designed by prominent Portland architect A.E. Doyle, the 1920s building has a cupola and arched windows.
For more than 18 months, board and community members have discussed how to upgrade the building. In December, the board decided 4-1 to tear down the building and build anew, saying rebuilding the campus was a better financial and educational option.
What's new: A group of the district's registered voters sent a letter to the school board, asking for a "clarification vote" to see whether residents of the Dunthorpe neighborhood would still support the bond knowing that the main building will be razed.
Ninety-two residents signed a petition saying the November election was "tainted" because the ballot title included a commitment to "upgrade, renovate and replace" the school and wasn't clear that full-scale demolition was an option. The group has formed a nonprofit -- Preserve Riverdale -- to fight the demolition and will request the Doyle building be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For information, go towww.preserveriverdale.org.
What's next: Riverdale School Board Chairman Chris Hall said the board received the letter but has no plans to pursue a second vote on the bond issue.
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