The original contractor’s unsatisfactory quality of work, and a new contractor tapped by an insurance company to finish the job that hasn’t officially agreed to do the work, have combined to further delay construction of the new community and youth center at Miami Lakes Picnic Park East.
During the February 11 regular Town Council meeting, Town Attorney Raul Gastesi and Town Manager Alex Rey responded to Councilmember Frank Mingo’s request to create a new time table to start construction again on the building in the park near N.W. 60 Avenue and Miami Lakes Drive adjacent to the Miami-Dade District 1 Police Station.
The town originally hired J.B. Builders and Contractors to do the job for about $1 million and construction initially commenced nearly two years ago.
But in 2013, Miami Lakes issued a stop work order after town staff discovered the workmanship was not up to the city’s building standards.
The facility was about 60 percent finished when the construction was disrupted.
Gastesi could only furnish a vague report citing legal precautions, saying the new contractors and subcontractors visited the constriction site on several occasions, but they have yet to sign an accord to complete the building.
Gastesi said if nothing pans out in the next 30 days, the town should hire another contractor to complete the job itself.
“They are moving slowly. They have been out there several times, but in a non-committal way, told the town they would take over construction,” Gastesi said. “There is an issue with money and they haven’t signed an agreement yet, but they are saying all the right things and making the right moves. But it comes to a point where patience comes to an end and if we don’t have an agreement by next month we should move forward.”
Miami Lakes hired Mark Martinez, a building and construction consultant in March 2013, to conduct a quality control check procedure on the construction following some issues with J.B. Builders and Contractors and discovered they altered the blueprints that the town had already approved.
Since the Florida Building Code removed quality workmanship from its requirements in 2010, the construction was done up to its code but wasn’t the best workmanship for Miami Lakes, Martinez said.
“The work stop order was issued because the work was being covered up, not acceptable to the town,” Martinez said.
Telephone numbers listed for J.B. Builders and Contractors at 3727 S.W. 8th Street in Coral Gables and at 8678 N.W. 58th Street in Doral have been disconnected.
Rey said the new contractor will have to correct the deficiencies to meet Miami Lakes’ standards once they enter into an agreement with the town.
“At this point they have not determined if they will need to demolish any portion of the work,” Rey said in an email.
Councilmember Ceasar Mestre said Miami Lakes must make a decision at some point.
“There’s been delay after delay after delay,” he said. “We can sue the company or allow it to get it done. But if we sue them, it won’t make the project come any faster. We need to move forward but be careful what we do it so it won’t backfire on us.”
Said Mingo: “Thirty days is more than reasonable if they are moving in the right direction.”
In 2012, Miami Lakes unveiled the plans for the 3,809 square-feet facility to replace the old community and youth center used by the YMCA after school program and the Boys Scouts.
The proposed new youth center includes two multipurpose activity rooms, classrooms for after school educational programs and tutoring, a lobby/atrium, storage area, women’s and men’s bathroom, family bath room and a desk for the reception.
The facade of the building is similar to the blueprint of the Community Center at Royal Oaks Park, where parents can drop off their children and proceed to exit the area without traffic.
On the outside, the facility will be adorned with ample trees and lush landscaping and two big oak trees towering over the front of the facility and the green space area near the driveway.
Also, the youth center will feature a new playground area, pavilion/picnic areas that can also be used to host small events and functions, a basketball court and additional parking.
The town earmarked about $1 million for the project and secured several recreation grants to rebuild the facility.