URA enters contract for restoration of historic downtown buildings; Progressing with projects

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The Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency of Pine Bluff met for their regular monthly meeting to discuss their current progress and other items in their agenda Tuesday, November 16th. The agency chair Jimmy Dill, commissioners Lynn Guynn, Travis Martin, Kirby Mouser, approved two contracts that were approved from the interim director Chandra Griffin’s request.

The first contract mentioned was an agreement to hire Level 5 to provide building restoration and preservation to the properties that URA possesses downtown on Main St. They also approved to revise a contract with WER who will be providing the price per square ft of 316 and 322 Main St. properties. URA will then use that price to lease or sell those properties to potential businesses that have acquired to use the property.

Level 5 was mentioned again throughout the meeting as they proposed the best design and engineering services to develop a Go-kart track and entertainment center at 2100 Harding.  The commissioners voted on all of the proposals received based on a scoring process and Griffin spoke more about Level 5 who scored the highest.

The commissioners also approved a 5% rate increase for their heavy equipment operator and created a new General Laborer position to help make work more efficient at their demolition site. Griffin also mentioned that URA has agreed to pay for their employee’s CDL license to drive larger trucks to complete the work needed for the agency.

During Griffins’ interim director report, she mentioned a project that they started this week at the old bingo building located at 304 S Chestnut. The eight-day project is underway is anticipated to be completely finished by the week of November 22nd.