Dear Mr. Nielsen,
Contrary to the information that you have received, bids were received for renovations to the Elaine Ione Sprauve Library.
Mark Hansen Designs has submitted bids for enclosing the building with historically appropriate fenestration as well as other improvements on four occasions. In May of 1999, August 2001, June 2004, and most recently September of 2006.
The most recent proposals were personally delivered to Acting DPNR Commissioner Claudette Lewis at a meeting held at the Library to review the proposed improvements. I also met with DPNR Architectural Historian Sean Krigger to further discuss the submitted proposals. Since submitting these proposals, we have requested updates from DPNR on the status on those proposals. No response has yet been received.
The Elaine Ione Sprauve Library is a significant Historic Structure and probably the finest of its kind on St. John. My involvement in the project stems from a personal interest in this building and the desire to see improvements fitting for such a building.
The quotes submitted for these improvements included 14 pages of drawings, as well as 15 pages of contract pages, payment schedules, finishing schedules etc., all representing considerable efforts toward what I assumed was a common goal.
It is unsettling to read from the DPNR spokesperson that “there were no bidders.”
Mark Hansen
Mark Hansen Designs
