The Redevelopment Commission approved a number of items related to Harrison Square.

The first was the painting contract which went to Thomarios. There was early concern of their safety record but further research determined the company to be in good standing.

The Commission also approved the contract for the playing surface to Motz Group. The actual low bidder, with a bid of about half the estimated amount, had never installed a playing field before and the bid specifications actually stipulated that the winning bidder must have prior experience. The Commission even went so far as to officially reject the lower, but unqualified, bid.

Another Harrison Square related approval was for a change order with W.A. Sheets & Sons for the parking deck portion of the project. The approval gave the nod to a conference center build out on the western side of the parking deck and also adds an aesthetic brick facade to the northern face.

A resolution was also passed that specified that the left field wall of the ballpark that also adjoins Barry Real Estate’s condo and retail building (including an exercise facility that looks onto the playing field) will technically be part of the public expense of the ballpark project. The other option would have been to pay for the work indirectly through Barry, but either way would have been part of the budget of the public expenditure.

It was noted that 9 condos had been signed thus far and that letters of intent had been received from two restaurants interested in the retail portion of The Harrison. The condo sales were said to be hampered by the process of trying to ensure that those with the earliest reservations would be contacted before any other interested parties would be approached.

Besides Harrison Square related business, the Commission also passed a Resolution that would give the Commission ownership of land along Superior west of Club Soda, which is currently a parking lot. The intent is to take steps towards developing the properties into a mixed-use area, which in the past has been referred to as Restaurant Row. Ownership gives the Commission the ability to send out Requests For Proposals for the property and allows them to use the property itself as an incentive for investment.