Westfield board selects Skender as construction manager for Jersey Street, approves related design and right-of-entry agreements
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Summary
The board approved selecting Skender as the construction manager-as-constructor (CMC) for the Jersey Street reconstruction, authorized preliminary design and owners’-rep contracts, and granted a right-of-entry to the Jersey 32 developer to enable demolition tied to the Grama project.
The Westfield Board of Public Works and Safety on Nov. 19 approved selecting Skender as the construction manager-as-constructor (CMC) for the full reconstruction of Jersey Street between Mill and Poplar.
Debius, a city economic-development consultant, told the board the CMC approach "allows us the opportunity to bring a construction partner on board early," and recommended Skender after an RFP process that shortlisted four teams. The evaluation team ranked Skender highest; the city will first contract for $24,381 in pre-construction services during the due-diligence phase, Debius said, with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) to be recommended in 2026 after additional design and public bidding.
Janelle Fairman, the city’s director of economic development, described two related contracts the board approved to coordinate quality, utility work and design. The board authorized a professional-services agreement with Crossroads Engineers for owner’s technical representation (initial cap $40,000) and approved a preliminary design contract with Rendell, Erzberger & Associates to advance streetscape design. Fairman said those early contracts are intended to align design deliverables with the CMC team and to simplify utility coordination with adjacent projects, including the Grama development managed by Skender.
Fairman also presented a right-of-entry agreement for Jersey 32 LLC that allows the developer to demolish two city-owned parcels (including 204 Jersey) to enable construction of the Grama project and a future parking garage. She said the city owns the two parcels and there is no cost to the city for the right of entry; the board approved allowing demolition access.
John Nail, director of public works, told the board that utility relocation schedules will drive the overall construction timeline and that the city expects to return with a GMP recommendation in 2026. Nail said, "We are trying to do this construction simultaneously with the Grama on Main project" to realize coordination efficiencies.
The board approved each contract and the right-of-entry by voice vote.
Next steps include completing design, utility coordination and returning to the board with a GMP and construction schedule after public bidding.
