City Ponders Rejecting Bids for Art Center

The City Council on Monday will consider rejecting all the construction bids for renovating the Grand Central Art Center, a key component of the budding Artists Village.

The city had valued the renovations, to include student housing, classrooms, a theater and a restaurant, at $3.38 million.

But the lowest bid was considered inadequate, city officials said, because the contractor did not include a list of major subcontractors.

The next-lowest bid, $3.89 million, was about 15% above the city estimate.

The city received 11 bids, the highest coming in at $5.4 million.

If the council rejects all proposals, the city would request new bids beginning the next day. On July 31, the city would study the new bids, officials said, and the council would consider approving one of them in early August.

By rebidding the project, city engineer George Alvarez said, Santa Ana might attract new contenders, or the previous contractors might “sharpen their pencils” and submit lower bids.

The delay in approving bids will postpone completion of the renovations by two weeks to May 1, Alvarez said.

The Artists Village is a complex of private and public buildings meant to bring new life to downtown Santa Ana.

The council will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in chambers, 22 Civic Center Plaza.

Information: (714) 647-6520.