Fairhope Waterfront Project: In Fairhope, the Working Waterfront and Greenspace project, aiming at revamping the parking lot, park, waterfront, and pier, is facing challenges despite the City of Fairhope securing $6.2 million in BP RESTORE Act funding. The project, crucial for restoration and new construction, received only one bid when it was recently put up for bidding, raising concerns about its feasibility.
Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan shared the city’s efforts, stating, “The previous 2 times, we received no bids. We put it out for a 3rd time, and this time we did receive a bid.” However, the mayor did not disclose the bid amount or identify the bidder. The decision to accept or reject the bid rests with the city council.
Mayor Sullivan emphasized the potential for negotiations, saying, “That means we can go to the bidder and negotiate that bid. We can look at it, and if there’s sections of the bid that can be negotiated from a price standpoint if the contractor is willing to do that, then we could do that.”
She expressed confidence in the negotiation process, stating, “If we decide not to accept this bid, it can be delayed. There are other options.” These alternatives include rebidding the project or splitting the bid between land services and water services, a move that would require approval from the federal grant program.
The City of Fairhope secured $6.2 million in BP RESTORE Act funding for the project in 2017, and the urgency stems from the funding’s expiration. Mayor Sullivan outlined the potential consequences, stating, “It would go back to the state, plus we’d also have to reimburse any expenses that we’ve already incurred.” The clock is ticking, and the city faces the challenge of ensuring the project’s completion within the funding’s timeline.
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