Architect Gets Contract for Cape May Convention Hall

CAPE MAY— City Council awarded a $448,000 contract to architects Kimmel Bogrette May 6 to continue their design work for a new Convention Hall here.
Mayoral candidate Jerry Gaffney questioned issuing a contract without taking bids from other architectural firms.
City Manager Luciano V. Corea Jr. said continuing to work with Kimmel Bogrette was discussed at earlier meetings where council agreed to the contract. He confirmed there would be no request for bids from other architects.
Councilman David Kurkowski suggested a partial payment of $70,000 to Kimmel Bogrette instead of $448,000 to have a three dimensional model of a new Convention Hall created.
“At this point, if we don’t approve something, everything stops,” said Councilwoman Linda Steenrod. “It’s apparent we need to move forward with this, it is also very apparent we have not reached the final decision as to what the building will look like, what details will be incorporated.”
Deputy Mayor Niels Favre said six months ago the issue of accepting bids may have been approached differently but council had to “deal with realities.”
“If we go out to bid for the architect, we certainly will add time and probably cost to the project,” he said.
Favre said he believed council needed to keep moving down the original timeline for a new Convention Hall. He said he preferred matching Kimmel’s new interior design with an earlier design concept that resembles a Convention Hall built here in 1917.
Favre said an independent third party would oversee construction of the new facility and bids would be taken for the construction of the building.
Paying Kimmel Bogrette just $70,000 would only delay the ultimate decision council must make in a month or two and cost more money, he said.
Favre said council had the choice of approving or canceling the contract.
“This firm has done nothing but respond to the requirements of the Convention Hall Committee, this council and the community,” he said.
Favre said not having Convention Hall open was “hurting the town.”
Convention Hall Committee Chairman Skip Loughlin said the $448,000 contract represented only about 5 percent of construction costs while most architects charge fees in the 15 to 18 percent range.
Steenrod said canceling with Kimmel Bogrette should not even be an option.
“We already have too much emotionally, time wise and financially invested in this to give up on someone who has done this good a job,” she said.