ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, August 23, 1996 TAG: 9608230052
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
Officials were encouraged by the numbers that emerged Thursday as they opened construction bids for a new town recreation center.
The apparent low bid - $3,592,000 by Branch & Associates - was in line with projected costs, Town Manager John Lemley said.
"I'm delighted," said Bob Oliver, the town's architectural consultant for the project.
Four other construction companies submitted bids that came in within $300,000 of the low bid, which gives the town some flexibility in hiring a firm to build the new facility.
The final bid could be awarded as soon as Town Council's next regular meeting Sept. 2.
Plans call for the new recreation center to be a multipurpose facility with indoor basketball and racquet courts, a walking track, meeting rooms, arts and crafts workshops, a senior center and kitchen facilities. It will be built on the site of the recently demolished Lowe's building at North Franklin and Cambria streets.
Oliver will review the bids and recommend which firm to select within the next few days.
"A lot of items need to be reviewed before a selection is made," he said.
It's possible that Town Council will call a special meeting next week to vote on Oliver's recommendation, then give ultimate approval when the proposal receives its second reading Sept. 2.
Officials said they would like to put the project in motion before Lemley's Sept. 1 retirement as a tribute to his 40 years as Christiansburg's town manager.
Most of the six construction firms that bid on the new recreation center said it would take about a year to build.
The favorable amount of the bids also assures the town it can afford to include a number of optional amenities - such as lockers, scoreboards, wood floors and court divider curtains - in the new facility, Lemley said.
The highest bid was $4.68 million, submitted by Richard Beech Builders.
There's been general agreement that growing Christiansburg needs more recreation facilities. But the design of the new building sparked controversy and misfortune.
Original plans called for the new center to occupy a renovated version of the abandoned Lowe's building. That changed after a heavy snowfall in January collapsed part of the building's roof.
Some citizens called for the new center to be built closer to downtown Christiansburg. Several candidates for Town Council last May advocated putting a swimming pool in the recreation center. But they were defeated and the idea evaporated.
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