Gastineau Apartments demolition pushed back to April

Inside the burned out Gastineau Apartments. (Photo by Lisa Phu/KTOO)
Inside the burned out Gastineau Apartments. (Photo by Lisa Phu/KTOO)

The Gastineau Apartments won’t be coming down until April. That’s according to city Engineering Director Rorie Watt, who delivered an update at Monday’s Juneau Assembly meeting.

Originally, the city wanted a demolition plan by August and bids solicited by September.

“However, what we’re hearing from contractors is that we’re giving an inadequate amount of time for the completion of the project,” Watt said. “We’ve seen major commercial contractors who would be suited for this kind of work pick up the bid documents, steer away. Call us up and say, ‘Too much risk. Not enough time. Not interested.'”

Now, the bidding process will extend into October with awards announced later that same month.

NorthWind Architects previously expressed concern that rainy fall weather would make the demolition more difficult, especially with respect to erosion of the hillside behind the apartments and managing stormwater pollution.

Assembly member Karen Crane said an extension could save the city money, but the building needed to be gone by spring.

“There can’t be any more slop over from that date because you know, then we’re running into tourist season and then there’s a big problem,” Crane said. “So the contract needs to be written pretty tightly that’s it’s down by the 30th of April or else something drastic.”

Although it’s taken months to formalize the plans, the demolition should only take three to four weeks.

The city has appropriated $1.8 million for the entire project, which it hopes to recoup through a lien against the property owners. 

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