The City of Hot Springs issued a Request for Proposals yesterday for abatement and demolition services for what is commonly known as the “yellow brick section” of the former Majestic Hotel, located at 101 Park Avenue at the intersection of Central and Whittington avenues in downtown Hot Springs.
The “yellow brick” portion, constructed in 1886, was a wood frame, five-story structure that was partially demolished under an emergency declaration following a major fire that occurred on February 27, 2014. The “yellow brick” was one of three major portions of the Majestic Hotel site, the others being the “red brick” section and the Lanai Tower and Suites. Following inaction by the property owner regarding issues including multiple code violations and removal of the remaining rubble, the City of Hot Springs acquired the entire 5.1-acre Majestic Hotel site through a real estate purchase agreement on August 25, 2015.
The RFP outlines the following tentative procurement schedule: A mandatory pre-bid and on-site meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on December 9 at the City Hall Annex, 111 Opera Street. Requests for clarification of any portion of the RFP are due by 2 p.m. on December 18, with questions and answers posted by 5 p.m. on December 18. Sealed proposals are due by 2 p.m. on January 4, 2016, and all bids will be opened publicly. Complete screening and ranking of proposers and proposals will be completed by January 11, 2016. A contract approval date is set for January 19, 2016.
The RFP notes that some dates in the procurement schedule are approximate and subject to change. Any changes will be posted on the city’s website, www.cityhs.net .
The project scope includes demolition of approximately 70,954 square feet of remaining “yellow brick” building space; abatement and disposal of hazardous materials; salvaging of fixtures and building materials when feasible; removal and disposal of all construction debris; provision of required erosion and sediment control measures; and implementation of security for the buildings and grounds during the contract work.
The city’s goal in designing the project was to ensure that the maximum practicable amount of materials be recycled or repurposed rather than being landfilled. Recycling Construction and Demolition Debris, termed “C&D recycling,” is one of the project’s key aspects. “C&D recycling is among the most visible commitments we can make to sustainable building, visible to every site worker and passerby,” Assistant City Manager Lance Spicer noted. “We have also requested that contractors provide a lump sum proposal to remove the front brick wall and to palletize those bricks for future re-use.”
Budget and schedule are two of the city’s main project objectives, while prioritizing the safety of the surrounding neighborhoods and the general community. The contractor will be held responsible for removing and disposing of all items identified as hazardous materials, including asbestos, mercury, lead and other materials. Removal and disposal is required to be handled in a manner complying with all federal, state and local hazardous materials laws and guidelines. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), long consulted by the city regarding the property’s environmental impact, will continue its involvement throughout the project.
“The issuance of this RFP is a significant milestone in the redevelopment of the Majestic Hotel property, and we are thrilled that the process is now underway,” Spicer added. “The RFP brings us one step closer to the realization of future potential opportunities for this property. This will be an exciting project for the City of Hot Springs, and we look forward to seeing progress in the months to come. While a project of this size takes time, our goal is to implement cleanup in a safe, expedient and cost effective manner, while mindful of the importance of this taxpayer-owned property.”