Quinta Mazatlan project on track for turnover; staff cites Jan. 10 target and added features

Eduardo, a city staff member, told the McAllen City Commission on July 28 that construction of the Quinta Mazatlan Center for Urban Ecology is proceeding under a construction manager-at-risk delivery and the contractor is working within the project’s guaranteed maximum price of $51,000,000. The project team said two elements that had initially been removed from the guaranteed maximum price were brought back into the contract using buyout savings and other savings from the construction manager-at-risk process. Eduardo said the contractor and staff expect to begin turning over completed elements to the city and operations staff by Jan. 10. The update said multiple park elements are under construction or in finish work, including an “adventure garden,” a pedestrian bridge called the Rio Gorge Bridge, a palm deck, a shaded amphitheater wing designed as an outdoor classroom, a restroom and palapa structure, and a feature the presentation called the “magic tunnel.” Eduardo said the parking component is being funded through Metro and was about half complete; he added that some staging and contractor parking is keeping final paving from being completed in that area. City staff showed recent photos and described interior finish work that staff said will include mechanical, ceilings and windows being finalized, then conditioning and finish shots. Eduardo said some interior and finish work could be completed over the next two to three months, while full building turnover is on the Jan. 10 schedule. He said incentives in the contract allow individual elements (for example, the adventure garden) to be turned over earlier if completed. Commissioners asked about budget and staffing. Eduardo said the project team expects to come in at or below the stated $51,000,000 guaranteed maximum price after accounting for scope restorations and noted there have already been identified savings, but he did not give a final projected savings figure. On staffing, city staff said operations questions (including hiring and day-to-day staffing levels) would be addressed by the convention center and operations teams, not the engineering staff giving the construction update. The presentation credited city staff members Yahaira and Colleen for project coordination and noted the delivery method (construction manager at risk) gave the city flexibility to adjust scope and pricing during construction. Eduardo closed by offering to take questions on construction sequencing and scheduling. City staff did not propose or take any formal votes during the workshop; the presentation was informational under Texas Open Meetings Act procedures.