Two weeks after taking ownership of the riverfront Jacksonville Landing, the city issued a bid notice Tuesday to tear it down.
The city posted an invitation to bid to contractors interested in “The Jacksonville Landing Demolition.”
Sealed bids are due by 2 p.m. June 14 to the city procurement division on the first floor of the Ed Ball Building at 214 N. Hogan St.
A mandatory prebid conference is scheduled at 10 a.m. May 23 in the eighth-floor conference room at the Ed Ball Building.
Bid documents are $40.
“Work consists of furnishing all labor, materials, equipment & performing all operations necessary for the demolition of the Jacksonville Landing,” says the notice.
“The work includes, but is not limited to the complete demolition, debris removal, erosion and settlement control, site restoration and all other related work in accordance with the Contract Drawings and Specifications,” it says.
City Council enacted Ordinance 2019-134 on March 26 for the city to terminate leases and demolish and clear the site of the 32-year-old marketplace at 2 Independent Drive W.
Property records show its three buildings comprise almost 180,000 square feet of space.
The city paid $15 million to a Sleiman Enterprises company to buy-out its long-term lease of the property. Council allotted $1.5 million to assist tenant removal and $1.5 million for demolition.
The city took ownership May 1.
In an April 23 interview, Mayor Lenny Curry and Chief of Staff Brian Hughes said they intend to demolish the building.
“Demolition has been contemplated for years and was approved by the City Council. Demolition is what comes next,” said Hughes, who also has been the interim Downtown Investment Authority CEO.
The DIA on Wednesday chose term-limited City Council member Lori Boyer to become its CEO.
Landing proponents are asking for the city to delay plans for demolition until a redevelopment plan is in place or to re-use the property without tearing it down.