Gramercy Group will head $23 M project to modernize New Hyde Park Special Park District pool

North Hempstead, NY – North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board voted unanimously last night to award a contract to Gramercy Group of Wantagh for the $23 million renovation of the Clinton G. Martin pool. Following a community meeting with New Hyde Park Special Park District residents last week, the Supervisor and Board members agreed that it was in the best interest of the community to proceed, rather than re-bid the project. The total park district tax will rise to about $140 a year for the median home, instead of the $100 a year that had been estimated before the bids were opened. Only residents in the special park district pay the increase, not all Town residents.

The Town had received preliminary estimates for the project at about $14 million, but due to an inflationary cycle in the construction industry, the bids came in $9 million higher than estimated.

“While we were extremely disappointed at the bids, we believe that proceeding with the project at this time is sensible and will achieve the community’s wish to have the pool closed for just one season,” said Town Supervisor Bosworth. “Had we re-bid the project, as some residents had suggested, it would have meant closing the pool for two seasons with no guarantee that the bids would have come in lower. We feel that the risks of rebidding outweigh the benefits and in order to give the residents a pool they can enjoy as quickly as possible this is the best path to take.”

The Town held a meeting on May 1 to hear residents’ thoughts on whether to proceed with the higher-than-expected bids, or to re-issue the Requests for Proposals. More than 100 people attended the three-hour meeting.

“We have received many emails, phone calls and a petition from community members,” said the Supervisor. “All of this information, along with what we heard last night, was taken into account in making our decision about how to proceed with this project. This is the community’s pool and their tax dollars. Working together as a community we can now move forward with a pool complex that residents and families will be able to enjoy for many years to come. I know we are all looking forward to celebrating the opening of the newly renovated CGM pool in the summer of 2018.”

The Supervisor stated that Gramercy Group is a reputable company with experience on projects of this size. The Town Board also approved an agreement with Liro Program and Construction Management, PE, PC to serve as the construction manager.

Both Town and contracted engineers have confirmed that the pool cannot be opened this summer under any circumstances due to the fact that it needs major renovations to operate and the existing pool’s mechanics can no longer be maintained. The Clinton G. Martin Pool was constructed over 50 years ago and has exceeded its useful life. It was last renovated in the 1980’s.

Renovation of the pool is scheduled to begin in June.