News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Highlands Residential Services has an apparent low bidder for work at its newest development.
Hickory Valley located on Jackson Street near Eagles Landing will include seven building with 48 low-income senior units. Director of Operations Chris Cassetty said two bids were opened with Rogers Group Inc. being the lowest bidder.
“This is basically everything short of building the actual buildings,” Cassetty said. “It includes parking lots. It includes landscaping. It includes playground equipment. It includes fencing around playgrounds and some other areas.”
Cassetty said the Highlands Board will consider the some $2 million bid at Thursday’s meeting. Cassetty said dirt work should begin within two to three weeks of approval and will be staged to fit the housing construction schedule.
“There are a few things we have to do administratively,” Cassetty said. “Anytime we do a constructive contract, we have to make sure the contractors are not on a barred or suspended list that HUD puts out. That is usually not an issue and shouldn’t be an issue. We have to check and make sure the bonds associated with the bid are valid, and again, that usually isn’t an issue.”
Utilities for the housing will be located underground with about 1,000 feet of entry road paved over it. Cassetty said Rogers Group should have the building pads ready in the late summer depending on weather.
“It is probably close to budget,” Cassetty said. “It is certainly in the realm of acceptable bids. There may be some things yet that we may decided to do or not to do that’s part of the project, but yes, the price is within reason.”
Hickory Valley must be completed and fully occupied by December of 2022, according to HRS. The plans have a community building centered around six residencies. Each unit is set to have a patio and divider accessible from the renter’s unit.
