The Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority, Colo., on Tuesday chose H.W. Houston Construction of Pueblo as the preferred design-build contractor for the first phase of the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo expansion.
Houston was the choice of seven of the nine Urban Renewal commission members to vote at the 12-person group's monthly meeting at the Pueblo Convention Center. One member abstained; one was absent; and the chair does not vote.
Houston, one of five design-build teams to respond to the agency's recent request for proposals, will now enter into negotiations with Urban Renewal on a contract.
Others bidding for the job were G.H. Phipps, Mortenson, Bryan Construction and a team made up of iiCon Construction and Cortez Construction.
On June 2, all of the companies made presentations to the commissioners and staff that make up the Urban Renewal committee overseeing the Riverwalk project.
The selection of a design-build contractor comes as the Urban Renewal Authority gets ready to issue tax revenue bonds for the expansion. The issuance of the bonds is the last financing piece needed before the first phase can advance to the construction planning phase. The agency expects the bond issue to raise $16 million to $17 million.
Recently, the state Office of Economic Development issued a letter in support of the bond issue, Urban Renewal Authority Director Jerry Pacheco said ahead of Tuesday's meeting. Urban Renewal hopes to act on the bond issue this month, he said.
Pueblo leaders estimate the first phase of the Riverwalk improvements will cost $23 million or more. The projects include the addition of an exhibit hall and Professional Bull Riders-anchored sports performance center onto the Pueblo Convention Center, a parking garage and the Gateway Plaza outdoor event space.
The design-build project awarded Houston covers the convention center additions and parking garage. A separate construction bid process is planned for the Gateway Plaza outdoor event space.
The state has pledged up to $35 million in current and future state sales tax funding to help underwrite the cost of the entire multiphase Riverwalk expansion, to also include the construction of an aquatics center and water park, a visitor center/boathouse and other improvements. Pueblo County taxpayers recently approved up to $3 million in local tax revenue to extend the Riverwalk channel to Santa Fe Avenue.
In addition to the $16 million to $17 million anticipated from the bond issue, the initial project financing includes a city of Pueblo low-interest loan of up to $14.4 million. A mix of private donations and state and federal grants is providing additional funding for the overall expansion.
Any money not used on the first phase would be available for future phases.
