Courthouse Repair Contract Approved
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the first contract to begin repairs on the San Fernando Courthouse, which has been closed since receiving heavy damage in the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
Work is scheduled to begin Oct. 21 and is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.
The winning bidder, FTR International Inc., will receive a lump sum of $5.84 million to repair damage. Other contracts for work on the building will be awarded in upcoming months, county officials said.
The repairs have been long delayed by wrangling--first between the county and Federal Emergency Management Agency, and later between the county and a consortium of insurers who refused to accept the county’s estimate of damages caused by the quake.
The county settled a lawsuit with four of the six insurers in July. The insurers agreed to free $17 million so the repairs could begin.
County officials said Tuesday the courthouse could be ready for occupancy by April.
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