Granite Shoals takes first steps to renovate new municipal complex
Mayor Frank Reilly said the city is in the early steps of converting a granite company’s former headquarters into Granite Shoals’ primary government building.
City staff and council members met with representatives from the architectural and engineering firm to begin the steps toward making the building the new Granite Shoals city offices. The city purchased the building, which sits atop a hill off North Phillips Ranch Road; it is visible to residents and visitors alike as they drive through the community or along RR 1431.
The city bought the 14,000- square-foot building and 131 acres in April for $3.16 million. The property had been in bankruptcy under its previous owner, 360 Global Wines, officials said.
Leonard Ripley of Freese & Nichols Inc. told the council that staff from the firm would be making trips to the building to take measurements, snap photos and study the structure. From those studies, the firm will put together a 50-percent submittal drawing by Dec. 19 indicating needed renovations.
“It’s just a rough drawing,” Ripley said.
The 100 percent submittal drawing would be completed by February. After that, Ripley said his firm would recommend a 60-day advertising period to attract contractors interested in bidding on the project.
“I think the economy the way it is — this will be a good time (to go out for bids),” he said. “Last week I saw steel prices plummet.”
With construction projects slowing because of the anemic economic, Ripley said the bidding for a project of this size and scope could become very competitive.
City Manager John Gayle said it’s too soon to determine how much the renovations will cost, but he believes a highly-competitive bid process would likely make it less than it would have before the economic slowdown.
The renovations include new heating and air conditioning systems, a new roof, an elevator and new plumbing.
Ripley said he wasn’t recommending any major remodeling inside the structure at this time. He felt before moving walls or tearing anything down, the city staff needed some time working in the facility to decide what they needed.
“In the inside, you need to live in it a while and find your needs,” he said.
Once the work begins next spring, Ripley said the city is looking at a nine-10 month construction period.
But the wait will be worth it, he assured the council.
“After that — open it up and show it off to the people,” he said.
daniel@thepicayune.com