Contract OK’d for pre-demolition work at E-B site

Richmond took a step toward demolition of the former Elder-Beerman building and adjoining skywalk.

The city’s Board of Public Works and Safety approved 3-0 during its May 16 meeting a contract with American Structurepoint Inc. of Indianapolis for architectural and engineering design services that prepare a demolition bid package and demolition cost estimates. American Structurepoint will be paid up to $130,040.

The project, which will result in a Flaherty & Collins apartment development at the 601 E. Main St. location, received funding from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative.

According to American Structurepoint’s proposal, demolition would be completed by October to begin construction yet this year.

Blundall Associates Inc. would assist American Structurepoint by providing an opinion of demolition costs, and August Mack Environmental will conduct a pre-demolition asbestos survey.

Community Crossings

By a 3-0 vote, the board awarded to Milestone Contractors the bid for Community Crossings-funded street projects totaling $649,371.10. Richmond received $320,196.88 in grant funding to mill and pave roads this summer, and the remaining $329,174.12 comes from local road and street funds and Redevelopment funds.

Greg Stiens, the city’s director of public works and engineering, said work would begin in July and take approximately four weeks. Milestone, which was the only bidder, will have completed 45 miles of paving since 2016 through the Community Crossings program, Stiens said.

Roads to be paved are:

• North Round Barn Road from Gaar Jackson to Crowe roads.
• South A from South 11th to 18th.
• South 17th from East Main to South A.
• South B from Garwood Road to the dead end.
• South C from Garwood Road to dead end.
• South 46th from South B to C.
• Hughes Lane from Garwood Road to cul-de-sac.
• Geraldine Lane from South 37th to Dorothy Lane.
• Woodside Drive from East U.S. 40 to Hayes Arboretum Road.
• Backmeyer Road from South 37th to Garwood Road.
• South 18th from East Main to South A.
• Polver Way from Hughes Lane to cul-de-sac.

Other approvals

• Richmond Police Department received permission to contract with John Jones Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge to purchase four 2023 Dodge Charger police vehicles for $143,684.
• Richmond Fire Department received board approval to contract with Maze Design for the floor plan, demolition plan and electrical and lighting layouts involved in the renovation of Fire Station 2. The cost is not to exceed $3,500.
• RFD’s contract with Ryan’s Flooring Sales and Service to install flooring at the Israel “Izzy” David Edelman Police and Fire Training and Physical Fitness Center was approved 3-0. Cost is not to exceed $914.88.