City to consider contract for street extension project

This is the firm’s fourth
contract with the city
related to this project.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

CITY HALL REPORTER

YOUNGSTOWN — The city’s board of control will consider a contract today for detailed design work for a street extension project, to provide a link between downtown and Youngstown State University.

The proposal calls for MS Consultants of Youngstown to receive up to $94,537 for work involving the Hazel Street extension between Commerce Street and Lincoln Avenue. MS will prepare final construction plans for the road as well as the pavement, curbs, sidewalks, drainage systems and lighting.

MS would have until Jan. 18 to finish the design work.

The city plans to demolish seven structures by April 2008 for the street extension, which should cost about $1 million, and YSU’s proposed $34.3 million College of Business Administration to be built in that area.

The city still needs to obtain Grenga Machine and Welding on West Rayen Avenue for the street extension project. Joseph Grenga is refusing to sell his property and rejected a $205,000 offer from the city.

City officials say they’re confident they’ll obtain ownership of Grenga’s property through legal means in time for the demolition of the properties. The demolition work is scheduled to start in early January. Grenga said he’s prepared for a lengthy court battle with the city over his property.

After the demolitions are done, the city will seek a company to build the road, said Carmen S. Conglose Jr., the city’s deputy director of public works. Construction of the road will take about nine months, he said.

If the board of control approves this deal it would be fourth contract MS has with the city related to this project.

The city paid MS:

U$33,000 for a traffic study in December 2006 that recommended where and how to build the extension.

U $97,608 in April for an environmental study of the area to determine the cost of removing asbestos and other hazardous materials from the buildings to be taken down for the YSU building and the street project.

U $119,907 on Oct. 11 to develop plans to abate and demolish the seven buildings.

It is common for the city to retain the services of one design firm for a project of this magnitude, Conglose said.

“Typically, once you select the firm, you stay with the same firm,” he said. “... It’s because of their familiarity with the project, and it’s cost-effective” because the company is familiar with the project’s data.

The city would also probably hire MS to handle the project’s inspection and construction administration phases, Conglose said.

skolnick@vindy.com