Redevelopment Authority approves contracts for business park work
The Fayette County Redevelopment Authority approved two engineering contracts and an agreement for intersection improvements, all for work at the growing Fayette County Business Park. In separate action, the authority approved entering into a $125,000 contract with McMillen Engineering Inc. and entering into a $150,000 contract with Sucevic, Piccolomini and Kuchar Engineering Inc., both of Uniontown. Both firms will perform engineering services at the Business Park, located along Route 40 in South Union Township.
Executive director Andrew French explained that the two projects involve engineering services for infrastructure completion and construction of the Matthew Drive extension.
French said McMillen will conduct engineering services associated with “Phase III” of the park’s development project. The project involves completion of infrastructure work necessary to fully develop the park.
French said McMillen, whose office is already located in the park, was selected from five firms who submitted qualifications to the authority. He said the “phased approach” includes engineering work involved in filling and preparing the area along Route 40; the installation of a main sewer line; power line relocation and installation of an earthen wall on one parcel.
French said McMillen’s prices were competitive, and he added that McMillen is intimately familiar with the park due to the fact that his business is located there. The authority is receiving up to $2 million through Gov. Ed Rendell’s capital budget and the authority must come up with matching funds, for the $3 million to $4 million project, French said.
Regarding SPK’s contract, French said the firm will perform the preliminary engineering services associated with the construction of the Matthew Drive Extension Project at the park. The road will travel through the park. French said the road construction is a $6 million to $7 million project.
French said five firms submitted qualifications. He said the build of the contract will include environmental work and SP&K has said plans are to complete the work by spring of 2006.
“Our hope is that they will be able to expedite construction of the road,” French said.
Authority member Paul Bortz Jr. suggested that there should be coordination between the engineering firms as well as developers as the work progresses. French said coordination is vital to avoid duplicate services. “We don’t want to be repetitive,” he said.
Numerous retail stores are planned for the park, which already includes McMillen Engineering, a Super 8 Motel, CareerLink and Fayette County Mental Health/Mental Retardation buildings. Various medical professionals are also locating in the park.
The authority also approved an agreement between the authority, Cedarwood Development Inc. and Gustavo A. Palmar for intersection improvements along Route 40 adjacent to the business park.
Under the agreement, which calculates how much each party must pay toward the intersection improvements, which include a traffic light and turning lanes, the calculation is based on how much acreage each party owns.
Palmar, who has 31.76 acres in North Union Township on which he is developing into as many as four automotive dealerships, has an obligation of $235,159.82 under the formula. Cedarwood, which has 55.17 acres in South Union Township on which it plans to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter and other retail stores, has an obligation of $408,435.48 under the formula. The authority, which currently owns an 8.6-acre plot of land in South Union Township that Synergy Real Estate Corp. is interested in purchasing, has an obligation of $63,652.28 under the formula.
The agreement, which must be approved by all parties, calls for Palmar paying the contractor the full $707,247.58 price up front, and the other parties reimbursing Palmar in the amount of $472,087.76.
French announced during the director’s report that the authority has received notification of receipt of a $400,000 grant to use for first time homebuyers. He said the program, started five years ago, provides 0 percent deferred loans to low to moderate-income families wishing to purchase their first home. Plans are to help 20 new families. French said to date, 42 families have benefited from past allocations.