From Deseret News archives:
Arts center bids OK — time isn't
However, funding and eminent domain issues still loom large as the city scrambles to meet a critical deadline to begin construction by Dec. 31.
City officials opened the bids Thursday and Hogan & Associates submitted the lowest offer at $7,042,600. Ascent Construction's bid was $7,848,500.
"We hoped they would be $7 million, so we're very happy we have one so close to that," said Wayne Parker, Provo's chief administrative officer. "We still have a little funding to do to get to that number. We knew that going in."
Parker said city officials will examine the bids and then award the contract this week. The bids are structured so the project can begin on the center's shell — Hogan's base bid is $5.95 million and Ascent's is $6.71 million — with the additions of seating and lighting later, when fund raising is complete.
The city has raised $6.5 million for the project, but more than a third of that — $2.2 million — might disappear if construction doesn't begin by Dec. 31.
The money is coming from tax increment bonds which the Legislature banned earlier this year. The Legislature granted an exception for Provo's performing arts center — if construction begins by year's end.
Representatives of both construction companies said they are ready to meet the deadline.
Provo spokeswoman Raylene Ireland indicated city officials will meet this week to discuss meeting the deadline.
"The mayor was waiting for the bid opening before meeting with the city attorney to understand what we have to do to show we have met that standard," Ireland said.
Parker and Ireland said crews have already torn down walls and stripped data and phone lines out of the former city library at 425 W. Center. The building will be remodeled with a 700-seat theater.
Architects determined they needed more space for the performing arts center, so Provo has tried for a year to purchase the adjacent Traveler's Inn, 469 W. Center, from owner Bob Patel.
The city has offered Patel $875,000 or a trade for another hotel, the Best Western Columbian Inn at 70 E. 300 South. Patel has asked for up to $1.4 million.
The City Council voted 6-0 earlier this month to authorize Mayor Lewis Billings to take Patel's property by eminent domain, but Billings promised to continue negotiations with Patel. It's unclear whether the Legislature's requirement would include taking the Traveler's Inn and beginning to demolish it by Dec. 31.
