Although initial plans are underway to construct a new state of the art straw market at its former location on Bay Street, The Guardian has learned that the new structure will not be able to accommodate the more than 600 vendors displaced since the Sept. 4, 2001 fire.
“It will be extremely tight to get the number of vendors that are in that tent (on Navy Lion Road) in this new building,” said a government source, closely linked to the straw market planning on Thursday.
The source told The Guardian recommendations were made to the Ministry of Trade and Industry to have a three-floor building constructed, but the ministry is still forging ahead to submit a Cabinet Paper to have a two-floor building erected. The source said a two-floor building was agreed upon because the ministry wanted to keep figures below $10 million, and it would cost $15 million to construct three floors.
“Three stories would give them [the vendors] much coverage for expansion for what is required at the moment in numbers, with a very open space; but to get them all in this new building would be pushing it, as there would be smaller stalls and much compaction,” the source said.
The source said once completed, the roof of the building may be developed to create more space, but as it now stands, there would not be enough space in the building to hold anywhere near 600 vendors.
On the other hand, the source said that many involved with the new straw market planning have been asking the Ministry to view the Cabinet Paper for the Straw Market but have been refused.
A Technical Officer at the Ministry of Works, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Guardian that they are in the process of organising an investigation of the existing foundation where the old straw market once sat. He said planners are attempting to use some of the existing “pile” structure that held up the old market.
“They were pre-cast piles, so we are going to try and locate those and test them to see if we can use them, otherwise we might be in a bit of trouble with ground works. We will try to do this (locate pile structures) within the next two to three weeks,” said the technical officer.
The Technical Officer continued that upon locating the existing pile structure, the Architect and the Structural Engineer would complete their design drawings, on the basis of whether or not existing piles can be used.
“Basically, we are going to locate a few and then test them to see what shape they are in and if they are in decent shape, we can save a few dollars on the foundation,” the technical officer said.
The officer said if all goes “according to plans,” some visible construction would “probably” be seen by the end of April 2004 and completion 18 months after construction begins.
And although the Minister of Trade and Industry told The Guardian in an earlier interview in January that the bidding process was expected to begin last month, the Works Technical Officer said they are not yet at the bidding stage, nor has a final design been decided upon.
The Technical Officer said when the old market was torn down after the fire, the area was graded, asphalted and transformed into a parking lot. He underneath the asphalt are beams and piles that held up the old building, that have to be located and their suitability for use identified.
“They [the government] are just trying to save a few dollars in piling and they should have enough information so that any contractor coming in to build that building is going to get the leg costs in hidden or existing foundation that we did not expect,” said the technical officer.
Minister of Trade and Industry, Leslie Miller said Thursday that work on the straw market is “progressing,” but was tight-lipped on the exact date of when actual work would begin. “I ain’t saying nothing. It will start when we say it will start,” he said, adding that the decision to begin construction would be solely up to a committee.
“We are having a committee meeting every week on Wednesday on the straw market and we are moving very progressively on it, but we have to wait for the architect and the engineer, but what is the big deal?” Minister Miller asked. He said the meetings held at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, are comprised of people from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Works, straw market architect, Michael Foster and engineer, George V. Cox.
Minister Miller said he is more than satisfied with what is going on. “That is all I can say right now,” Minister Miller said, referring The Guardian to the straw market architect, Michael Foster or its engineer, George Cox for more information. However, Mr. Cox said the architect would be a better person to dispel information about the market.
“He would be a better person because he is in charge of the design. We are the structural engineers, we are designing the structure of the building, but I think it would be better to talk to him,” Mr. Cox stated. The engineer added that his company, George V. Cox and Co. is presently working on the design of a “piling” system.
Asked whether he had an idea of the exact date of construction, Mr. Cox only replied that he had an idea, but preferred not to reveal a date. “I get all my instructions and my drawings from the architect and we are still in the process of having weekly meetings with the minister and I really don’t think it is my position to be giving out information like that,” he said.
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
