Clarkesville selects design/build team for fire-damaged downtown

CLARKESVILLE - The Clarkesville City Council has decided who will perform design work and redevelop the fire-damaged east side of the Square.

Monday night, the Clarkesville City Council voted 3-0 to select Blake Rainwater & Associates Inc. of Habersham County as the contractor, noting that firm will work in tandem with Croft and Associates Architects for Phase 1 of the downtown restoration/redevelopment project.

The decision, based on the recommendation of consultants 4PM, was made by three council members. Council members Tommy Burgess and Casey Ramsey were absent from the meeting.

Mayor Terry Greene further discussed the decision.

"We were able to select a contractor for the job," Greene said. "I'm happy that it turned out to be one of the local contractors that was in the running. He had a great design that he presented as well, so I think it's going to work out well."

Phase 1 of the project, under the tentative design submitted, will feature a 2,300-2,400-square-foot restaurant space, and 3,700-3,800 square feet of retail space in two storefronts on the existing street level, and more than 6,000 square feet in three basement spaces.

Phase 1 encompasses the former Ramsey's Food Market building and the former Sharky's Sports Bar, located closest to East Water Street.

Phase 2 of the project, to come later, will focus on the former Natalie Jane's Tavern on the Square space, located next to the undamaged Jackson Building.

The council will again hear about the project at its work session on Thursday, July 16, and could approve a formal contract at that time, depending on coordination with Rainwater prior to that time.

"The hard part is behind us," Greene said. "That [contract approval] shouldn't take long."

Asked if he is still optimistic the Phase 1 portion of the project will be completed by the end of the year, Greene said, "Oh, absolutely! I'm very optimistic. I think as soon as that contract is signed things will get moving very quickly."

Work should begin soon on preparing the fire-damaged east side of the Clarkesville Square for new retail and restaurant spaces. Blake Rainwater and Associates Inc. of Clarkesville has been selected as the contractor for Phase 1 of the redevelopment project.

Phase 1 of the Clarkesville downtown redevelopment project will work in the former Ramsey's Food Market and Sharky's Sports Grill buildings, farthest down the side walk toward East Water Street. The most heavily-damaged buildings, the former Natalie Jane's Tavern on the Square and the adjacent Parker Building, will be redeveloped in Phase 2.

Consultant Kirby Glaze addressed the Clarkesville City Council about the downtown redevelopment project Monday night.

This is one of the designs included with Blake Rainwater and Associates Inc.'s proposal for redeveloping the Clarkesville Square. He will be working in tandem with Croft and Associates Architects for the design/build project.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/7/321388/clarkesville-selects-designbuild-team-for-fire-damaged-downtown