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Council awards Durant Eastside Library contract; project funded largely by state grants
Summary
Council awarded the construction contract for the Durant Eastside Library to Horizons Construction Company; the project is budgeted with $14.5M in state grants and $7M in city funds, with a planned groundbreaking this September and ribbon cutting in 2027.
The Riverside City Council unanimously approved awarding the construction contract for the Durant Eastside Library (2060 University Avenue, adjacent to Bobby Bonds Park) to Horizons Construction Company on Aug. 5.
Library Director Erin Christmas told the council the project has moved through community input and design since 2017. The project budget includes $14.5 million in combined state grants and about $7 million of city funding from Measure Z, general fund infrastructure reserves and library trust funds, Christmas said. A parkland replacement requirement tied to earlier grant funding will be addressed with a $500,000 allocation from the project budget to parks staff to identify and acquire replacement parkland elsewhere in the city.
Christmas said 15 vendors responded to the city’s request for bids and 12 were determined responsive; Horizons Construction Company was the lowest responsive bidder. The staff recommendation included a 10% construction contingency as well as authorization for the city manager’s designee to execute the construction services agreement and for the CFO to record necessary interdepartmental transfers and supplemental appropriations.
Councilmembers praised the lengthy community process and said the new stand‑alone library will benefit the Eastside neighborhood. Christmas said staff hopes to break ground in September and target a ribbon cutting in 2027.
The council approved the award and appropriations unanimously.
