La Porte to seek bids for Civic Auditorium elevator replacement using federal CDBG funds

The board authorized staff to solicit bids for a full replacement elevator (three-story lift) at La Porte’s Civic Auditorium, using federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) COVID funds that received HUD approval on Feb. 19.

Mark Schreiber, representing the parks department, told the board the project is park-board approved and the city is moving ahead with solicitation so bids will be in hand before the board’s March 17 meeting. He said the project is a full replacement after repeated repairs would have been costly.

Why it matters: City officials said bringing federal dollars for the elevator was the best available funding option; the funds must be used by July 24 and the city expects the new lift to be installed by summer. Board members said improving accessibility at the Civic Auditorium is a priority for community programming.

Cost and schedule: Schreiber said prior repair attempts were expensive and a full replacement was quoted at about $173,000; the city will bid the work and final costs will depend on competitive bids. The solicitation will proceed so the project can meet the grant spending deadline.

Vote: The board moved and approved solicitation of bids for the Civic Auditorium lift; members said they expect bids to be returned in time for contract consideration this spring.

Next steps: Staff will solicit bids and return recommendations to the Board of Works for contract award; the board expects a construction schedule that replaces the lift by the summer season.

Quotes: “Technically, it’s a lift, but it would be most people refer to it as Civic Auditorium elevator,” Mark Schreiber said. “Anytime we can bring federal dollars back home, it’s a good thing.”