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Single bid for 102 South Union renovation tops $2.39 million; city weighs mitigation fund
Summary
City of Westfield staff reported one bid of $2,390,000 for renovation work at 102 South Union, well above the anticipated ~$1 million estimate. City staff and the advisory team are weighing value-engineering, negotiation, or using a mitigation fund in lieu of renovating the building.
City of Westfield staff reported that a single contractor, Brandt Construction, submitted a $2,390,000 bid for renovation work at 102 South Union, and officials said that figure does not include the estimated $95,000 cost to move the structure. The bid opening took place Aug. 1, and staff said the work package covered excavation and poured basement walls, coordination with the building mover, and a first-floor renovation to meet ADA requirements for commercial use while leaving a residential-style stair-only second floor.
The advisory and design team that prepared the plans included Pat Jacobs of Architecture Trio and Chad Slider of the State Historic Preservation Office; staff said they will consult the advisory team and the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology before deciding how to proceed. City staff said they expected the renovation to come in around $1 million before bids were received and that Brandt’s higher price largely reflects intensive structural work required to replace rotted timber sill plates and to shore the building so it can be moved safely.
The memorandum of agreement (MOA) tied to the road project includes a mitigation option if a building cannot be moved. City staff said one option under consideration is creating a mitigation fund to support multiple downtown historic-preservation projects rather than committing taxpayer dollars to a single, expensive renovation. Staff described INDOT participation as a 50/50 contribution toward mitigation costs tied to the road project, though INDOT’s final decision has not been made. Staff said they have up to 60 days from the bid opening to award or reject the contract.
City staff described next steps as consulting with the advisory team (which the city listed as including Mark Delosse, Linda Nasse, Judy Shuck, Chad Slider, Jennifer Beck and project design staff) and CHIP/SHPO contacts, then reporting back to the preservation body and the mayor. Staff also discussed possible salvage options if demolition is necessary — for example, reusing hand-hewn attic beams or displaying salvaged elements as part of a mitigation outcome.
No formal decision or award was made at the meeting. Staff said they would contact advisory-team members and State Historic Preservation Office staff to solicit feedback on whether to pursue value engineering, negotiate, accept the bid, or move to the mitigation-fund option.
