Fayetteville city officials will further vet Barton Malow Co. as a possible ballpark contractor on a new High-A Carolina League ballpark, as the city council voted on Monday to continue negotiations.
Last week, a ballpark committee revealed that it was recommending Barton Malow to oversee construction of a $33 million facility that is slated to open in 2019. Barton Malow submitted a bid to be a contractor at risk for the ballpark, and committee members were impressed with the firm’s level of experience in similar projects.
On Monday, the city council concurred, authorizing discussions with Barton Malow Co. The 10-0 vote did not finalize the firm’s role in the project, but it did give city officials the approval needed to continue working with the company on project details. One area that councilmembers stressed is that they want to ensure that Baton Malow Co. secures enough contracts with local and minority-owned businesses. More from The Fayetteville Observer:
During the regular meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Mitch Colvin said the council had a concern that Barton make strong efforts to hire locally and black-owned businesses for its subcontracting work.
Those efforts, Colvin said, should be part of the contract negotiations.
[City manager Doug] Hewett nodded in agreement, and Councilman Bill Crisp agreed with Colvin by saying, “Here, here.”
After the meeting, Councilman Larry Wright, who is on the Baseball Committee, said the council wants Barton to commit in writing that at least 30 percent of the value of the subcontracting work go to blacks and other minorities.
Officials are hoping to begin construction this summer. Once it opens, the facility will be home to the current Buies Creek Astros (High A; Carolina League), who are spending the next two seasons at Campbell University’s Jim Perry Stadium.
RELATED STORIES: Barton Malow Co. Vying for Fayetteville Ballpark Contract; Fayetteville Reissues Ballpark Construction RFQ; Fayetteville Developers Request More Time; Additional Fayetteville Ballpark Renderings Released; Fayetteville Ballpark Design Continues; Fayetteville, Astros Sign 30-year Ballpark Lease; Fayetteville Lease Could be Finalized in December; Fayetteville, Astros Making Progress on Lease; Fayetteville Selects Ballpark Layout; Fayetteville Releases Ballpark Renderings; Astros, Fayetteville Discuss Temporary Ballparks; Fayetteville Could Begin Ballpark Construction Next Summer; Details Released on Fayetteville Ballpark; County Approves Contribution to Fayetteville Ballpark; Fayetteville Ballpark Financing Plan Approved; Funding Details Emerge in Fayetteville;Fayetteville Holds Off on Unveiling Funding Model; Fayetteville Moves Forward with Astros MiLB Ballpark; Terms Leaked for New Fayetteville Ballpark Lease;Vote on New Fayetteville Ballpark Set for Wednesday; $35 Million for Fayetteville Ballpark;Fayetteville Making Progress on MOU; Fayetteville Officials Visiting Columbia; Freier to Represent Fayetteville in New Ballpark Talks; Next Step for New Fayetteville Ballpark: Crunching the Numbers; Decision for Fayetteville: How Much to Spend on New Ballpark; Fayetteville, Astros On Path to Discuss New Ballpark; Study: MiLB, Carolina League Feasible in Fayetteville; Fayetteville MiLB Ballpark Site Pitched; Astros, Rangers Exploring Carolina League Teams; Fayetteville makes it official: Downtown ballpark proposed;Fayetteville/MiLB match surfaces again; Cal/Carolina League shift back in play?