John Scarffe, Black Hawk.  A major construction project for the relocation of Gregory Street got under way during the regular Black Hawk City Council meeting on Wednesday, April 27, at 3 p.m., at 211 Church Street. The Council also received requests for projects on the north side of Gregory Street and at 400 Chase Street.

Senior Civil Engineer Matt Reed presented a resolution awarding the bid for construction of the Gregory Street Relocation project to Concrete Express, Inc. The bid is not to exceed $7,765,950.50, plus a materials testing allowance of $180,000, according to the request for council action.

A construction management allowance of $200,000 also was requested, to be used on an as-needed basis when city staff is unable to devote the necessary time to this project, according to the request.

Construction costs will total $8,145,950.50. Of this amount, the Black Hawk Central City Sanitation District will reimburse the City $1,396,402.25 for work related to sanitary sewer removal and construction. The net costs to the City would then be $6,749,548.25.

The Gregory Street Relocation project will realign Gregory Street from Selak Street to Mountain City to create more space for commercial development, according to the request. Water and sanitary sewer mains will be replaced from Selak Street to the Red Dolly Casino, and the existing flume will be reconstructed between Selak and Church Streets.

Two concrete retaining walls with stone veneer will be constructed with this project. It will be paid for through the Gregory Street Redevelopment fund, according to the request.

Reed said the City has been waiting for eight years to start this project. They plan beginning work at the end of May, and it should take about 18 months for completion around September 30, 2017.

The Board approved awarding the bid to Concrete Express. After the meeting, Mayor David Spellman said this will be a massive project and could involve shutting down part of Gregory Street and rerouting traffic to Bobtail Street.

Cindy Linker with Community Planning and Development presented a resolution to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for the construction of the existing Gregory Street retaining walls. The certificate applies to multiple City-owned properties on the north side of Gregory Street between Selak and Church Streets, and on the south side of Gregory Street between Bobtail Road and High Street, according to the request.

The project proposes construction of two retaining walls, safety railings and a stairwell.

Linker said the color schemes will all match, and the same stone as the parking structure will be used.

The Board approved the Certificate of Appropriateness and also approved a certificate for rehabilitation of 400 Chase Street. Staff recommended approval on a conditional basis.

The applicants, Josh Smith and Mary Keefhus, requested the Certificate of Appropriateness for the rehabilitation of the historic house, outbuilding and site at 400 Chase Street. In 2015, the Historic Preservation Committee and City Council approved the demolition of a non-historic garage as well as two non-historic additions on the building, and that demolition has been completed.

The site today contains a historic house and outbuilding. The site and building features covered by this proposed rehabilitation are the site, including gravel parking, trees, retaining walls, fencing and bridges; the historic residence; and the Carriage House.

Linker said several elements of the site are not in compliance with historic preservation guidelines. Due to inconclusive evidence of the age of the windows from the limited window survey, the preference is for new uniform window types with durable exterior finishes that most closely resemble historical windows with true divided lights.

The project also would allow a frosted window at the back bathroom, since it is not visible from the street right-of-way, and it would repurpose the existing house siding still in good condition to repair and replace the deteriorated siding on the carriage house and to replace the existing siding on the house with new uniform period style siding.

Alderman Hal Midcap asked if the porch on the house would be placed back to the original size. Linker said that would make the porch three inches past the screen door. The portion of the previous porch has not been proven to be historic, so it would not be covered by the project. The applicants don’t have the money to pay for it.

Spellman said if the previous porch was 50 years old it would meet the requirements. Alderman Linda Armbright said: “I don’t remember it being any different. It meets the 50 years.”