Mayor expresses frustration over Chateau setback

The timeline for activating the Chateau Theatre is being pushed back due to higher-than-expected bids for initial renovation improvements.

On Monday night, the Rochester City Council opted to take staff's recommendation and reject all three bids, the lowest of which was $1.1 million. The council, along with the Destination Medical Center Corp. Board, had approved up to $1 million be used toward interim activation.

Speaking to the council, City Administrator Steve Rymer said the roofing portion of the project complicated the initial bidding process.

The plan is to now open bids up for a second time, but segment the roofing replacement to proceed under a separate bidding process. City staff said the process could push potential activation of the building to mid-2019.

At Monday night's council meeting, Mayor Ardell Brede expressed his "extreme frustration" at a process he said is taking "way too long."

"I understand the bids came in higher than what we had expected," said Brede, who helped lead the city's effort to purchase the historic theater. "I am just concerned that it's taking a lot longer, and I'm not so sure that the people that are bidding on this, and others that are working on it ... are they giving this the attention that it deserves and not dilly-dallying around?"

Cover photo: File / Med City Beat