Roscoe narrows scope of pop‑up market park after bids top estimates; board directs cost-cutting and phasing

Joe Anderson, of Place Boundary, told the Roscoe Village Board on Sept. 2 that the lowest construction bid for the village’s pop‑up retail and park project came in roughly 30% higher than anticipated and the low bidder, Scandali Construction, identified several items that could be scaled back or deferred.

Anderson said the lowest bid was “just over $2,000,000,” and that the board could reach its target by trimming or phasing major items. He singled out the restroom building — currently bid at about $455,000 — and a $70,000 labor line that could be avoided if volunteer labor and donated materials could be secured. "If we can solicit and find volunteer labor, we would save $70,000,” Anderson said.

The board discussed several possible cuts and phasing options: building only the site groundwork (parking lot, pads and utility stub‑outs) this year; delaying the restroom building in favor of temporary solutions such as rented heated restroom trailers or porta‑potties; removing or simplifying selected landscape and path elements; and postponing some lighting and nonessential planting.

Board members noted the bid includes union labor and prevailing‑wage requirements, and Anderson emphasized that some alternates had been priced in case donated materials or volunteer labor were unavailable. He also compared the project’s restroom estimate to a smaller, two‑restroom facility built recently at Beyer Stadium that cost about $300,000, saying the Roscoe facility was larger, heated and includes a workroom and utility space, which raised the price.

Anderson said the bid assumed installation labor for the pop‑up retail sheds because the high school class that originally planned to erect them is no longer available; the pads for the sheds are in the base bid but the additional $70,000 covers setting up the structures (roofing, siding, labor). He confirmed the pads are included in the base bid and recommended leaving them in place even if not all pop‑ups are set up immediately.

Other cost items Anderson identified: a dumpster enclosure that could save about $18,000 if omitted; smaller path and surfacing alternates (mulch vs. crushed rock or concrete) that reduce cost; and landscape allowances that total more than the board expects to install immediately. The group estimated the parking lot construction alone at roughly $190,000–$200,000, though Anderson said a detailed breakout would be provided.

The board reached a direction, not a formal vote: trustees expressed a preference to limit expenditures this year to about $1.4 million and asked staff and the design team to return with updated cost breakdowns and alternate scopes that would hit that target. Anderson said he would check donated‑material options and anticipated it was realistic to secure the $70,000 in donated labor or materials with help from Trustee Bethany Mead. He gave a rough schedule, saying heavy construction work was more likely next spring and that the overall project is now positioned as a 2026 build for completion of all phases.

On a related topic, Anderson said the project team had asked the village’s electrical engineer to price an EV‑charging station as an alternate. He said the local utility, ComEd, may offer a significant rebate and that the investment could pay back within about three years under certain rebate and usage assumptions.

The board asked the consultant to provide: a) a detailed breakout showing the cost to prepare sitework (parking, pads, utilities); b) alternate scopes omitting the restroom and other nonessential items; and c) options for temporary restroom solutions and donated labor/materials. The board did not authorize expenditures beyond existing budget limits at the meeting.

The discussion began after the board introduced Anderson’s presentation and lasted through the reports portion of the evening. Trustees emphasized they wanted visible, finished site improvements this year (pad and parking work) while deferring the highest‑cost building elements until funds or donations were secured.

The village clerk said staff will return cost detail and revised alternates in the coming days so the board can decide a formal purchase order or appropriation in a later meeting.