Daeadline Looms for Plainview Firm

Written by Joesph Kellard with Jaime Summersille

A Plainview firm could face $15,000 a day fines if they don't make progress building a boardwalk in Long Beach.

Grace Industries, which was hired by the City of Long Beach  to reconstruct the 2.2-mile structure after Hurricane Sandy, signed a contract that includes a milestone clause for the first 100 days of the project.

“If they fail to meet that milestone there is a $15,000 penalty a day for each day until they meet it,” City Manager Jack Schnriman told Patch in June.

THe hundred day mark passed Tuesday, but the city told  Patch that due to holidays, that deadline isreally July 25.

"The hundred day mark was for 'substantial completion' of those sections," said Gordon Tepper, director of communications for the City of Long Beach. "Once the sections are substantially completed, they're returned to the City for inspection."

Additionally, the city said that  Grace Industries is "on time and on budget for the project."

"In fact, they're ahead of schedule..." 

Two blocks of boardwalk were returned to the city today - from Long Beach Boulevard and to Edwards Boulevard.

"As soon as everything checks out, we will then open those blocks to the public. At this point, we do not have any official announcements concerning when sections will be open to the public," Tepper added. 

Grace Industries has 210 days to complete the entire structure, at a cost to the city of $44.2 million. About $2 million was included in the agreement to cover any unforeseen costs. FEMA is expected to reimburse the city up to 90 percent for Sandy-related rebuilding projects.