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December 10, 2010· scvtalk.com · WordPress (SCVTalk 3.0) · Wayback capture

Newhall Library Construction contract

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

At next week’s Council meeting, City Staff will recommend the Council award $10.4 million to Tobo Construction, Inc, for the construction of the Newhall Library.

This award comes after a previous rounds of bids on the project which were rejected due to irregularities. Seems a lot of construction companies wanted in on the bid; a rival to Tobo even complained to the City about Tobo’s paperwork.

The City is also hiring an engineering firm “provide construction inspection and support” for the project as well as a labor compliance firm.

Critics have called the new library a “Taj Mahal,” but at $10.4 million and less than 30,000 sq. ft., I’d say it’s a pretty modest library. And I’m excited for Old Town Newhall. Since they leveled the block at the corner of Lyons & Railroad, I’ve been driving by everyday hoping to see some activity as our new library takes shape. This is the next step in that process.

With the streetscape finished and this contract awarded,  Old Town Newhall feels like a neighborhood that’s about to explode with activity and renewal.

Comments (30)

  1. CCDecember 10, 2010 at 8:54 am
    I hope you are right Jeff, but I fear it will be akin to San Fernando’s main street of ultra discount and second stores.
  2. TimBen BoydstonDecember 10, 2010 at 8:55 am
    Thanks to the City for finishing the streetscape to Lyons. It looks great, and is following the master plan.
  3. Alan FerdmanDecember 10, 2010 at 9:29 am
    Well that was a productive effort. Tobo’s bid went down $250,000 and the city is now going to hire an” engineering firm “provide construction inspection and support” for the project as well as a labor compliance firm”. So tell us, how much extra is that going to cost. The city spin on the rebid was that it was going to save us a cool $1 million. Was hiring these two additional firms part of the origional planned cost or is the bottom line cost going up, again?
  4. cashDecember 10, 2010 at 11:12 am
    It is very likely Tobo will attempt to make up the low ball bid with extras. I will bet the final actual cost of construction will eat up most of what was “left on the table”. This may be the reason Kenny the Skamp has hired a watch dog.
  5. CCDecember 10, 2010 at 1:57 pm
    LOL, yeah I can hear it now; “What!? you wanted the toilets to flush? Well that will be a little extra.”
  6. The King of SCVDecember 10, 2010 at 4:06 pm
    Our new Library looks like it will be fantastic. Aside from all the politics involved, when it’s done it should be a great building that does a lot for Newhall. I hope the kids and adults alike make good use of it even though they have various libraries, and a vast never ending ability to obtain information from the net. When the green movement pushes for paperless publishing and electronic book downloads along with school text books, someday we might have a real neat museum of books. Perhaps we can charge people admission to come in and remember the old days when we read from actual paper bound books with words in them. For now I hope people make the investment in educating their minds for the millions we are spending. If anything, it will be a beautiful trendy looking place.
  7. Street KnowledgeDecember 10, 2010 at 6:42 pm
    Remember when people used to read with seer stones?
  8. The King of SCVDecember 10, 2010 at 6:46 pm
    Do you mean a flashlight
  9. Bill ReynoldsDecember 10, 2010 at 6:33 pm
    The King rocks! Haha!
  10. CCDecember 10, 2010 at 10:12 pm
    I’m sad about the forum…
  11. ReaderMamaDecember 10, 2010 at 10:58 pm
    Me too, CC. But we’ve been through this before . . . maybe it will rise again in a year or so . . . .
  12. Lori RivasDecember 11, 2010 at 10:03 pm
    What is (was) the forum?
  13. ReaderMamaDecember 12, 2010 at 8:10 pm
    Under “Links” at the top of this page you will note the “SCVTalkers Forum.” It was a forum where some of us used to discuss, rant, debate, argue and enrage each other. Anyone who joined could post a topic, in contrast to this format which supposedly limits discussion to what Jeff, Tim & ND post. Jeff has been a very generous and tolerant host; however, there has been a decided drop off in activity in recent months and Jeff decided to put an end to it. We’re going through withdrawal.
  14. KevitivityDecember 11, 2010 at 2:00 am
    Wow, abrupt end to the forums, which I found very useful. Jeff, I have a server (co-lo vps Linux box) where I would be happy to host the forums. Free of charge. Get in contact with me via my website if you’re interested.
  15. Phil EllisDecember 12, 2010 at 10:46 am
    Kevitivity – miss your comments on technology. Based on your comments, I have added netflix. What a deal. I am now trying to decide on how much of U-verse to cancel. The forum was great placed for the exchange of great ideas and sometimes not so great opinions. Thanks for yours.
  16. Petz2December 11, 2010 at 6:13 am
    Petz misses the forum too. He blames Jeff Wilson.
  17. Street KnowledgeDecember 11, 2010 at 12:43 pm
    I would read the forum just to see that Phil Ellis guy make an ass out of himself every day.
  18. Bill ReynoldsDecember 11, 2010 at 8:14 am
    It’s understandable why the forum closed – these are very tough times for liberals to argue their left-wing ideology. As each days goes by it become more and more clear to most Americans that socialism is scorned and unworkable. November 2nd’s election proved that and then came Obama’s 9.8% unemployment report, but soon, we’ll have a new Congress to straighten out his mess…
  19. ReaderMamaDecember 11, 2010 at 10:00 am
    And if you believe that, I’ve got some land in Alaska I’ll sell you real cheap . . .
  20. Phil EllisDecember 12, 2010 at 9:40 am
    I might be in the market. Where is the land you own? If it is close by to Skagway, let’s talk.
  21. ReaderMamaDecember 12, 2010 at 9:52 am
    No, it’s closer to Russia.
  22. Phil EllisDecember 12, 2010 at 10:49 am
    That part of Alaska is way too cold. What possessed you to buy way out there. If you inherited the land, I might understand.
  23. ScottEDecember 11, 2010 at 7:20 pm
    I haven’t been to The Forum since The Kings started playing at The Staples Center #smirk
  24. ReaderMamaDecember 12, 2010 at 9:45 am
    Did anything funny happen while you were on your way there?
  25. Phil EllisDecember 12, 2010 at 10:49 am
    RM, great reply.
  26. MikeDecember 12, 2010 at 12:49 pm
    Phil, I thought you didn’t read the site. Either way, welcome aboard. There’s a lot to learn here.
  27. ScottEDecember 12, 2010 at 2:24 pm
    Funny things happen wherever I go
  28. ScottEDecember 12, 2010 at 2:25 pm
    And as far as anyone knows, I may be too young to even get that reference…as far as anyone knows..
  29. ReaderMamaDecember 12, 2010 at 3:13 pm
    Some of us know better, RP!
  30. AlpinerDecember 14, 2010 at 10:17 pm
    Guys, you are turning this into the forum.

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