BEVERLY — How much will the new high school really cost? The city should have a better idea just after 11 a.m. tomorrow.
That's when officials at City Hall will open the bids from the companies seeking to become the general contractor for the high school project. The companies will state how much they would charge the city to build a four-story high school, renovate the existing field house, auditorium and cafeteria, and knock down the existing academic wings.
They will also include prices for three "alternate" projects the city is considering:
Building an artificial turf field with 2,200 seats next to the high school, along with a building that includes bathrooms, a concession stand and changing rooms.
Building a second artificial turf field (with no stands) inside the current track oval at the high school.
Adding 2,000 seats to the first field, for a capacity of 4,200.
Mayor Bill Scanlon said the decision on which of the options to choose — including the option of choosing none of them — will be made based in part on the prices revealed at tomorrow's bid opening. Another factor will be how much of the project will be paid for by the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
The city must award a contract within 30 days of tomorrow's bid opening, so those decisions must be made by then, Scanlon said.
"It all depends on the money, obviously," he said.
Scanlon originally pegged the price of the project at $65 million, with at least half the cost paid for by the state.
Scanlon said that $65 million estimate was made 21รขÑ2 years ago and the cost has "quite likely" gone up. But he also said he expects the School Building Authority to pay more than the original 50 percent estimate.
Scanlon said city and school officials will schedule a meeting with the School Building Authority after the bids are opened. Once a final price and the exact state reimbursement percentage is determined, the matter will go before the City Council, Scanlon said.
The council approved the original $65 million figure in February 2006.
Construction is scheduled to begin next month and be completed by the summer of 2010.
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