AGENDA #5e
TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL
Status of Capital Projects
March 31, 2004
There follows a status report on the capital projects on which Town staff are now working. Projects are classified as “Completed,” “Under Construction” and “In Planning.”
Completed
Fire Training Building Renovation
Project: Refurbishment of spalled concrete floor and installation of heat resistant tile inside building used for training fires.
Budget: $45,000 from CIP. Final contract cost for the project was $43,122.
Status: The project was completed during January 2004.
Police Headquarters Parking Lot Renovation
Project: Selective base repairs, resurfacing, repair and re-striping of asphalt parking lot at Police Headquarters
Budget: $50,000, CIP funds
Status: Informal bid was awarded and construction was completed during 2nd quarter.
Hargraves Center/A.D. Clark Bath House Renovations
Project: Perform extraordinary maintenance identified in 2000 Facilities Assessment Study, including, at the Center, replacement of interior surfaces, of electrical, heating and air conditioning systems, and plumbing fixtures; adding Americans with Disabilities Act accessible entrance and restroom facilities, and repairing the roof; and at the bath house, raising the roof, adding day lighting, adding ADA accessible entrances and restroom facilities and replacement of all surfaces and mechanical equipment; and replacement of mechanical equipment and re-pouring the floor of the pump house.
Budget: $1,200,000 to be financed over 10 years included in CIP from 2001- 2010.
Status: Work began in April 2002. Change orders adding significant work, such as removal of asbestos, replacement of siding, roofing membrane, water-damaged sheathing and window flashing on the Center, more extensive reconstruction of the bath house, and more repairs on the pool, extended completion date to March 31. Punch list walk through on March 31 identified several relatively minor issues which delayed full occupancy. However, the building was stocked with furniture in April and the grand opening was held on May 10. The pool opened as usual on Memorial Day Weekend.
Completion of punch list items has delayed final close-out of this project. The contractor has completed the punch list items and submitted his final payment request. We expect to pay the final payment during April or May 2004. Final costs will be $1,200,000 or a small amount below that.
Homestead Gym Siding
Project: Re-siding of wood-frame building on Homestead Road, acquired as part of the development of Vineyard Square. Some drainage work is included to improve positive drainage.
Budget: $33,000 from the rent paid by the firm that uses the building for gymnastics classes. The contract for siding replacement is $28,200.
Status: The siding work is completed. In the fall of 2004 planting season, Town forces will re-grade and landscape the area around the building to improve drainage and appearance.
Roof Replacement Project
Project: Replacement of the roofs of the Town Hall, Fire Station #2 (Hamilton Road) and Fire Station #3 (Elliott Road and Franklin Street)
Budget: $300,000, to be financed over 10 years
Status: Bids totaling $307,700 for all three roofs were opened in October; debt service requirements will be within the budget. All three of these projects are now substantially completed with only minor punch list items remaining.
Sidewalks
Fordham Boulevard: Contract project on west side of roadway, from Days Inn to Willow Drive. Contract was awarded within the budget of $100,000 from 1996 Street bond funds. Work completed March, 2004.
Under Construction
Dry Creek Trail
Project: Land acquisition north and south of I-40 and construction of a trail from East Chapel Hill High School to Providence Road. Another branch of the trail is proposed to connect Chapel Hill and Durham trail systems on land north of I-40.
Budget: $415,430, including a $200,000 grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, National Trails Grants totaling $100,430, payment in lieu of open space funds of $10,800 and 1996 Open Space bonds.
Status: Sterling Ridge Apartments completed a trail segment from Providence Road to Erwin Ridge subdivision. Eagle Scouts have cleared a trail corridor from East Chapel Hill School to Perry Creek Road. Stairs and boardwalk have been constructed between San Juan Road and Perry Creek Road using a National Trails Program grant and Eagle Scout volunteers. Work continues on three separate portions of this project:
All necessary properties south of I-40 have been acquired. A 31-acre parcel south of I-40 on Erwin Road was acquired in 2003, across from the 35-acre parcel acquired in 2000.
Negotiations with owners of two parcels north of I-40 have so far been unsuccessful. However, acquisition of a third parcel north of I-40 was completed in 2003, using Clean Water Management Funds and 1996 bond funds.
Police Headquarters Renovations
Project: Repair of the leaks and the damage caused by them, replacement of roof and roof mounted air conditioning units and any other work needed to preserve the public’s asset.
Budget: $700,000 of 1996 Public Safety Bonds
Status: Initial contract of $500,000 provided for repair and renovation, completing the waterproofing of all foundation and basement walls, replacement of the roof and of the air conditioning units on the roof and repair of floor and wall surfaces on the first floor. This work was completed in May 2002, with final check of HVAC system to be concluded with hot weather in 2004.
The remaining $200,000 is to provide for additional work on a safer configuration of the magistrate’s office, building security, renovation of the public lobby, and reorganizing space previously used for processing and storing paper records. Informal bids were opened in November, and a contract was executed for all of the above mentioned work. Construction on this follow-up project was scheduled to begin on January 5, 2004; however, construction was halted soon after it began to allow the designer sufficient time to develop plans and specifications for changes requested by the Police Department. Construction resumed on about April 19th with an expected completion date of June 2004.
Sidewalks
Legion Road: In-house project on south side between Clover and Ephesus Church Roads; and between Scarlette Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Street. The first section, between Clover and Ephesus Church Roads is complete. This project is being constructed by Public Works crews.
Pritchard Park Renovations
Project: Comprehensive renovations of 15-unit public housing neighborhood on Pritchard Drive Extension.
Budget: $960,700, including HUD’s Capital Grant and Community Development Block Grant funds.
Status: Site work, including demolition, concrete, and rehabilitation work in the first phase of 6 units began in June. Progress was delayed due to long fabrication time for windows and delivery of other components. The first phase of six dwelling units was completed and occupied in January, the second phase of four units in mid-April. However, a unit in the third phase suffered fire damage at the end of March, and negotiations with the insurance company and contractors delayed completion of the project. Occupancy of all units except the fire damaged one was completed by September 5, and the last unit was occupied on October 16. Final close-out is expected in the fourth quarter, after Duke Power and the contractor complete installation of yard lighting and associated site work.
The total costs are expected to be under $784,000.
In Planning
Airport Gardens Renovations
Project: Comprehensive renovations of 26-unit public housing neighborhood on Airport Road, including drainage and site work, replacement of windows, doors, cabinets, appliances, etc.
Budget: Approximately $1,000,000 now available for Phase I. Phase I funding will depend on cost of emergency repairs needed at Trinity Court neighborhood. Federal funds available in July 2004 are anticipated to be sufficient to complete the last 10 apartments and the site work.
Status: Architect was selected and began schematic design work in January 2003, with attention paid to site work and drainage issues as well as renovation of interior of apartments. Design drawings and bid package were ready by mid-May and were held in abeyance until September 2, when news of the amount of the next Capital Fund Grant was received from HUD. Construction bids were opened in December 2003. In April 2004, the Council rejected all bids for this project and directed the renovation work to be re-bid. The re-bid opening is scheduled for May 2004, and award of contract is anticipated in June 2004.
Aquatics Center
Project: Construction of an aquatic facility on a site in Homestead Park. The Council-approved conceptual plan includes a competition pool, warm water pool, locker rooms, office, and classroom and reception area.
Budget: Total of $5,555,000, including $1,200,000 from 1996 Town Park bonds and $855,000 from 1997 and $3,500,000 from 2001 Orange County Park and Recreation bonds.
Status: On March 5, 2001, the Council adopted the conceptual Plan and requested that the Board of County Commissioners release the remaining $855,000 in 1997 bonds. A committee of elected officials from both jurisdictions developed a process for joint development of the Southern Community Park and governing bodies agreed to it March 3 and 5, 2003. The Council resolved on June 23 to request the Board of County Commissioners to approve the concept plan and follow the same process as the one in use for the joint development of the Southern Community Park. The Commissioners approved the concept plan on October 1, 2003.
GGA Architects, the firm that had developed the concept plan, is now under contract. A public forum was held in January to solicit ideas from swimmers. The Committee also directed the Public Arts Commissions of both the Town and the County to develop a way to incorporate public art into the planning process for the center. That process is underway.
The architect is currently preparing a Special Use Permit application and building design schematics. The Council has granted expedited processing for the project.
Booker Creek Linear Park
Project: Construction of a park and trail along Booker Creek from East Franklin Street to Fordham Boulevard, between Eastgate and Village Plaza commercial areas.
Budget: $447,100, including $349,700 from North Carolina Department of Transportation, $10,000 from the developer of the Plaza Theaters, and a local match of $87,400.
Status: Rose Engineering completed the study needed for the No Rise Certificate from FEMA, and found that the original concept plan was not feasible. The Council approved relocation of the pedestrian bridge in June 2002 and plans have been revised. Two of the three necessary easements have been acquired. After considerable study and discussion of alternatives, it was decided to delete the bridge and route pedestrians across the stream along the shoulder of Elliot Road. Approval of this change by DOT was received in September 2003, and first round Zoning Compliance Permit drawings have been prepared. A necessary easement from the Federated Theaters developers has not yet been received. The project can be bid once the easement has been acquired.
Burning Tree Drive Drainage Project
Project: Alleviation of flooding of a private residence on Burning Tree Drive during heavy rain.
Budget: $67,625 of Street bond funds.
Status: In-house design of the replacement of undersized storm drainage pipes under Burning Tree Drive and broadening of channel downstream was completed and reviewed by OWASA for necessary replacement of segments of a water and sewer line. Easement from one neighbor was available, but extensive negotiations with another neighbor did not result in the necessary easement. Therefore, the staff studied the feasibility and cost of providing an earthen (dry flood proofing) landscaped berm to protect the house from flooding during certain rain events. Property owner agreement, surveying, preliminary plans, cost estimates and a feasibility study have been completed; final plans, permitting and bid documents will be completed by the end of the fourth quarter. Construction by a private contractor, pending receipt of an acceptable bid, is anticipated during the summer of 2004.
Generator for Town Hall
Project: Installation of a generator capable of providing the power necessary to operate Town Hall during emergencies.
Budget: $130,000, to be financed over 10 years, from CIP funds.
Status: First engineering report presenting three options for location was prepared in April, and one option was selected for full development. Change in personnel of contract engineering firm caused delay. The consulting engineer initially projected a cost of about $150,000; however, upon completion of the detailed design work they have presented a new, much higher cost estimate. We opened bids for this project on April 14, 2004. The apparent low bid was for $354,000. We plan to reject this bid as unaffordable within our budget and redesign the project with a reduced scope of work.
Generator for Police Headquarters
Project: Installation of a generator capable of providing the power necessary to operate the Police Headquarters.
Budget: $110,000, to be financed over 10 years from CIP funds.
Status: This project is being designed and bid in conjunction with the Town Hall generator project. We opened bids for this project on April 14, 2004. The apparent low bid was for $232,000. We plan to reject this bid as unaffordable within our budget and redesign the project with a reduced scope of work.
IFC Shelter
Project: Extraordinary and deferred maintenance as defined in 2000 Facilities Assessment Study, with emphasis on exterior repairs necessary to protect the structure.
Budget: $450,000 to be financed over 10 years included in CIP from 2003/4– 2013/14.
Status: The Council adopted a reimbursement resolution for $340,000 on September 9, 2002. Our engineering firm completed inspection of roof and advised more work be done than had originally been budgeted. Council included financing for $450,000 budget in 2003/4 – 2013/14 CIP, so the reimbursement resolution will need to be amended before the bids are accepted and the financing finalized. Specifications for all needed exterior work, including roof repairs, replacement of windows, window frames and doors and pointing up the brick, are complete. Conversations with IFC staff have been on-going since July about the impact of the work on the safety of IFC operations. The IFC staff has decided to vacate the building during the work. In order to accommodate planning for IFC’s interim operations and to avoid roof work in the winter, work has been planned to begin this spring.
We opened bids for this project on February 26, 2004. The apparent low bidder was D.W. Ward Construction Co. with a bid of $342,582. We have awarded a construction contract to D.W. Ward and we issued our “Notice to Proceed” on April 22, 2004. We expect construction to be completed by July 31, 2004.
Morgan Creek Greenway
Project: Construction of paved trail along Morgan Creek from Merritt Pasture on US 15-501 to Smith Level Road.
Budget: $89,375, 80% federal funding through NCDOT, 20% CIP for concept planning only.
Status: The Conceptual Plan Committee convened in November 2002, held a public forum June 10 and then suspended work while waiting for revised flood mapping. The remapping work has been delayed a number of times and has no target completion date. We are exploring the possibility of remapping that portion of Morgan Creek with our own funds and consultants.
Old Post Office Capital Repairs Project
Project: Renovation of exterior and, possibly, interior portions of the Old Post Office Building.
Budget: $1,500,000, to be financed over an as-yet-undetermined period of time.
Status: We have recommended to the Council that this project be delayed so as to allow earlier renovation of the Community Center. If the Council approves this plan, we will replace the roof and make some immediate repairs to the Post Office to protect the building’s integrity until the major renovation can occur.
Pritchard Park
Project: Construction of a primarily passive park on the 34 acres of Town-owned land surrounding the library, including trails, small playground and a sculpture garden.
Budget: $164,000, including a $100,000 gift from the Pritchard family.
Status: A committee consisting of representatives of the Library Board, Public Arts Commission, and Parks and Recreation Commission worked with Town and Hotel Siena staff, and all agreed on a recommendation to Council, based on conceptual plan adopted by Council in November 2000. The Council approved a proposed financial agreement with the Siena on November 25, 2002. A memorandum of understanding between the Town and the Siena was held in abeyance until the Land Use Management Ordinance was enacted so the impact of regulations related to the Resource Conservation District would become clear. A memorandum of understanding was then developed, but the owner of the Siena decided in June, 2003, that he wanted proceed with a different project. He agreed to have a proposal ready for the Council after the summer, and later decided that the proposal would be in the form of a Special Use Permit application.
The applicant recently requested that the Town enter into another round of discussions. The Council authorized the formation of a second Pritchard Park Arts Garden Committee that should begin to meet sometime in the summer.
In the meantime, trails that circumnavigate the site have been built by Eagle Scout candidates, and the Audubon Road stub-out roadbed has been removed, seeded, and landscaped.
Sidewalks
Airport Road: Sidewalk on the east side of the road, from Timber Hollow Court to Homestead Road. Municipal Agreement sent to NCDOT for execution in April, 2004 which would allow us to receive $200,000 in Direct Allocation funds. Local matching funds of $50,000 are budgeted. Project will likely be built by contract. Project should be completed within 2 years of execution of the agreement.
West Rosemary Street: Funding of $25,000 was originally allocated for a segment on the north side of the street, from IFC Community House to Church Street. That project, however, has been delayed by difficulties in acquiring several easements and an attempted redesign. Community Development Block Grant funding will be used to fill in a sidewalk on the south side of Rosemary Street, between Roberson and Graham Streets. The project is being designed and we hope to begin construction using Town crews in the fourth quarter.
Weaver Dairy Road: Sidewalk from Cedar Fork Trail to Kingston Drive, along the south side of Weaver Dairy Road. Budget includes $180,000 of 1996 Street Bond funds. Funds being held at least until NCDOT’s road improvement project is designed and cost estimates made.
Southern Community Park
Project: Community Park to include three soccer fields, basketball court, inline hockey court, spray park, picnic facilities, woodland trails, paved paths, play areas, dog park, parking and site for a community center.
Budget: $1,090,000 from 1986 Town of Chapel Hill Parks bonds; and $658,000 from 1989 Town of Chapel Hill Parks bonds for land acquisition. $895,000 of 1997 Orange County Bond funds; $2 million of 2001 Orange County bond funds.
Status: Fifty acres were acquired in 1988 for $1,050,000 and 28 acres acquired in 1990 for $658,000. Conceptual plan was approved by the Town Council and forwarded to the County Commissioners on January 26, 2002. On March 5, 2003, the Board of County Commissioners approved the conceptual plan and a process for the planning and construction of projects that include County bond funds. The Project Planning Committee decided on April 15 to advertise for a landscape architect, interviewed four candidates on July 17, and selected OBS Landscape Architects on August 25. On October 1, 2003, the Board of County Commissioners agreed to spend 1% of County bond funds on public art and asked the Public Arts Commissions of the Town and the County to develop a process for doing so.
On December 8, the Project Planning Committee agreed to move the dog park from the southernmost tip of the park to a spot just south of Dogwood Acres Drive and to realign the soccer fields to a north-south direction to improve playability in the afternoon sun.
The contract with OBS Landscape Architects has been executed and work has started on the Special Use Permit application. The Council has granted expedited processing for the project.
Streetscape
Project: Improve sidewalks, street trees, street furniture and
street lighting along town center streets, including Franklin and Rosemary
Streets, from east of Henderson Street to Merritt Mill Road, and the connecting
North Columbia Street. Intention is to implement in increments the plan
adopted by the Council in 1993, some of it being done by developers of adjacent
land and some by Town forces.
Budget: Of the $1,000,000 in 1996 Street Bond proceeds allocated, approximately $781,000 has been expended or encumbered, and the remaining approximately $219,000 allocated for pending lighting and signal system improvements.
Status: Reconstructed sidewalk segments have been completed on the north side of West Franklin Street from Carolina Cleaners to Ham’s, from the multi-tenant retail building housing Vespa’s to Church Street, and from Bruegger’s Bagels to Columbia Street; on the south side of West Franklin Street from Merritt Mill Road to Roberson Street, adjacent to 411 West Franklin Street, and adjacent to the University Baptist Church; on both sides of North Columbia Street from Franklin Street to Rosemary Street; on the north side of East Franklin Street from Columbia Street to the Presbyterian Church; and on the south side of East Franklin Street from Columbia Street to McCorkle Place.
Custom street and pedestrian lighting improvements have been installed on the north side of West Franklin Street from Carolina Cleaners to Ham’s and are currently being installed on the both sides of East Franklin Street from Columbia Street to Henderson Street, and both sides of North Columbia Street from Franklin Street to Rosemary Street.
On October 27, 2003, the Council authorized the Town Manager to allocate $125,000 to supplement the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s proposed downtown signal system improvement project thereby permitting the installation of single-arm mast arm signal poles at three downtown intersections. We believe these improvements, at the West Franklin Street/Church Street, East Franklin Street/Henderson Street and North Columbia Street/Rosemary Street intersections will be completed by the first quarter of FY 2004 – 05.
On April 14, 2004, the Council authorized the Town Manager to allocate $95,000 for custom street and pedestrian lighting improvements on the north side of West Franklin Street from the multi-tenant retail building housing Vespa’s to Church Street and on the south side of West Franklin Street adjacent to University Baptist Church. A specialty lighting request has been submitted to Duke Power Company and we believe these improvements will be completed by the second quarter of FY 2004 – 05.
Town Operations Facility
Project: Acquisition of land for and design and development of operations facilities for the Public Works Department, Transportation Department, the Police Vehicle Impoundment Lot and Public Housing Maintenance.
Budget: The Council approved a budget of $42,926,527. The total budget for architect and engineering fees is $3,823,792.
Status: Eighty-eight acres north of Eubanks Road, west of I-40 and east of Millhouse Road, were acquired and financed from 2001 through 2003 for a total capital cost of $1,436,000.
The designers have been working on the schematic design throughout this quarter, completing their work on schedule by March 31. The next phase of work includes detailed design and preparation of construction drawings and bid documents. We hope to begin preliminary site work by the fourth quarter of the calendar year.
The Town applied for a Special Use Permit on November 18, and the Council approved it on April 14. The next regulatory step is applying for a zoning compliance permit, which will take place over the next several months.