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Graham redevelopment on fast track; bids due Nov. 26 as DDA eyes Dec. 10 cost update
Summary
The Rochester DDA heard a detailed update on the Graham redesign, with planning materials submitted, a pre-bid walkthrough set for Nov. 20, bids due Nov. 26 and a Sept. 30 funding deadline tied to county funds. Staff said full cost estimates should be available for the DDA’s Dec. 10 meeting.
The Rochester Downtown Development Authority received a progress report on the Graham redevelopment on Wednesday, with project leads saying procurement is under way and a tight funding deadline is driving an accelerated schedule.
The board was told planning staff have what they need and the project is on the planning calendar for December, with an expected public hearing in January. A pre-bid walkthrough for trade contractors is scheduled for Nov. 20; bids are due Nov. 26. Project leads said they expect to have bid numbers and initial cost estimates available for the DDA meeting on Dec. 10.
"We've got to have this thing built and done by Sept. 30; otherwise we have to write a check back to Oakland County," a DDA project lead said, describing a funding deadline that, if missed, would trigger repayment obligations. The same speaker said the building is enclosed and much interior work can proceed while the team solicits bids.
Why it matters: the DDA and project team described the redesign as broadly well received by city council, and several speakers framed the work as an investment in downtown vibrancy. Board members emphasized competitive bidding strategies — breaking the work into trade packages — as a way to lower cost and increase contractor participation.
Project timeline and risks: staff said the bid packet includes all design elements needed for contractors to price work. After bids are returned Nov. 26, the team expects a week to review and refine costs. Speakers noted short schedule impacts could occur from Thanksgiving and deer-hunting season, but the team reported soil/contamination issues are reduced from earlier estimates and that the project is in a better position than before to control cost increases.
"Is there anything keeping anybody up at night or that I should be worried about that should be keeping me up at night?" the project lead asked the board; members responded that the team generally reported no critical outstanding issues other than awaiting firm bid pricing.
Next steps: the board directed staff to compile bid results and present full cost estimates at the Dec. 10 DDA meeting. Planning will proceed through December with an anticipated public hearing in January; remaining procurement schedule milestones include the Nov. 20 walkthrough and Nov. 26 bid deadline.
At the meeting the board did not take a formal procurement vote; members discussed budget-readiness steps and emphasized transparency with city council as numbers are refined.
