City Council will consider paying Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. $2 million to serve as developer of the Forest Street realignment near the company’s future world headquarters in Brooklyn.
Ordinance 2020-0150, filed Feb. 19 by City Council President Scott Wilson at the request of Mayor Lenny Curry, will “facilitate the reconstruction” of the intersection to “provide better safety and drainage improvements in the area,” according to a legislative fact sheet.
The realignment is designed to improve pedestrian access to the $145 million FIS headquarters on Riverside Avenue, Sidney J. Gefen Riverwalk Park and improve drainage in the area. It will realign Forest Street with Alfred DuPont Place.
FIS will complete planning and design on the project, which was underway by the city Department of Public Works, as well as complete the engineering, permitting and construction.
If the project costs more than $2 million, FIS will pay the overages.
Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer said contracting with FIS to complete the project is about efficiency.
Boyer said FIS is on a tight construction schedule and having the company complete the realignment will reduce the chance of delays.
In January, the city demolished the former Fire Station No. 5, which was in the path of the planned realignment project.
FIS filed site plans Feb. 14 with the city for a 357,460-square-foot office tower and 1,620-space parking garage.
The headquarters will house more than 1,700 employees, including 500 new full-time jobs, FIS President and CEO Gary Norcross said Nov. 1.
Hines Senior Managing Director Lane Gardner, the project’s development manager, said Feb. 13 that the high-rise at 323 Riverside Ave. is on track for completion in June 2022.
