DOWNTOWN 1st bids roll in for new arena

Engineers denied the estimates were flawed. They credit competitive bidding.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The first contracts to build the downtown arena are more than $1 million under the estimate.
The city opened three proposals Thursday to prepare the site on Front Street near the South Avenue Bridge for the 5,500-seat, $41 million project.
Proposals from three local companies were for two contracts. Engineers estimated the contracts together would cost $2.35 million.
The apparent low bids, however, total $1.22 million, $1.13 million less than the estimate.
Mike Perry, a construction manager for Hunt Construction Group, of Dallas, denied that the estimates were flawed. Hunt is doing construction management for the developer, Global Entertainment Corp., of Phoenix.
The outcome shows good competition among bidders, he said. The bids show contractors won't be taking advantage of the project, Perry added.
It's not unusual to see such large differences between estimates and bids on construction, said Carmen Conglose Jr., city deputy director of public works.
Competition for work in the region is more intense here than elsewhere, he said. There aren't as many construction projects here compared with other spots in the state, he said.
The city is glad to see all local contractors bidding, Conglose added.
Various contracts
The city can award the contracts to two companies or both contracts to one company.
The first contract is for earthwork needed to clear the site and do mass excavation to work out the grade of the sloped property.
"Clean it up, get it ready for construction," said Steve Savich, a project engineer with MS Consultants of Youngstown. Demolition of the old Goodyear building and an old gas station on the site will be bid separately.
The second contract is to install water, sanitary and storm sewer lines on the site.
The estimates were $1.62 million for the earthwork and $725,000 on the water and sewer lines.
The bidders and their proposals on the earth moving and utility contracts were:
UMarucci & amp; Gaffney Excavating, of Youngstown, $971,576; $365,538.
USoda Construction Co., of Niles, $950,000; $450,000.
UA.P O'Horo Co., of Liberty, $851,000; $543,000.
That makes the apparent low bidder A.P O'Horo for earthwork and Marucci & amp; Gaffney for water and sewer lines.
The city is expected to award contracts after engineering consultants and the law department review the bids. Work should start within two weeks after the city awards the contracts, Perry said.
There will be at least seven more bid packages such as Thursday's, said K. Anthony Hayek, director of architecture at MS Consultants. Each bid package will include two or three contracts, he said.
Bid packages are to be opened in two weeks for contracts to build the arena's foundation and install mechanical, electrical and plumbing needed under the building, he said.
rgsmith@vindy.com