Myrtle Beach Announces New Central Coast Complex in Carolina Forest Amid Construction Controversy

Myrtle Beach Gears Up for New Central Coast Complex in Carolina Forest!

Hey Myrtle Beach residents! We’ve got some exciting news that will surely stir up a mix of curiosity and chatter around town. Horry County is moving ahead with a new project that’ll reshape how some county offices operate, right in our backyard! Yep, you guessed it, we’re talking about the new Central Coast Complex that will be located on Hinson Drive in Carolina Forest.

So, here’s the scoop: out of four bids from construction contractors, Horry County officials decided to go with Cooper Tacia, a construction firm from Raleigh, North Carolina. They didn’t have the lowest bid but were chosen for a few reasons. Cooper Tacia’s bid came in at $15.6 million, which makes them the second cheapest offer after Tungsten, our very own local contractor from Myrtle Beach, who surprised many by submitting the lowest bid at $14.9 million.

You might be wondering, “Why did they choose an out-of-town company when we have local talent?” Well, it turns out that Tungsten’s bid was marked as “non-responsive.” This fancy term means that the bid didn’t meet all the requirements that the county specified in their invitation for bids. According to county spokespersons, Tungsten’s plans for temporary heating and cooling during the construction period didn’t cut it, and that was a big issue.

What This Means for Us

The Central Coast Complex will house a new police precinct, a magistrate office, and various other county offices. This is important for all of us! As our area grows, these services will help manage the increasing population. Even though it’s a bummer that a local contractor wasn’t awarded the job, there are still hopes that this project will benefit the community in the long run.

Now, Tungsten isn’t going down without a fight. They filed a protest claiming that they actually did meet the requirements and requested a hearing to discuss their bid further. But Horry County Administrator Steve Gosnell has stated that he did not think a hearing was necessary because, in his view, the council’s decision was spot-on. However, this has stirred up quite a bit of conversation!

The Fill Dirt Drama

Hold on, it gets even more interesting! There’s also a little drama brewing regarding fill dirt needs for the site. Carolina Utilities, the company involved in providing that fill dirt, has sued Cooper Tacia, claiming they are owed $352,000 for extra work that was necessary. It’s whiskey-tango-foxtrot—I mean, it adds a spanner in the works for this whole project!

Carolina Utilities’ owner Brandon Lawrence noted that he knew the county’s specs for fill dirt were incorrect, but when Tungsten pointed it out, the county didn’t budge. Lawrence’s comments and that pesky lawsuit have added more twists to this tale!

What’s Next?

So, what’s next for all of us proud Myrtle Beach folks? Horry County officials recently broke ground on this new office, and they’re optimistic it’ll cater to our ever-growing population. This means more jobs, more efficiency in county services, and hopefully, less hassle for us citizens. But wouldn’t it have been something if a local company snagged the deal?

It’s always a wild ride when it comes to county projects, and this one is proving to be no exception! As things progress, be sure to keep your ears to the ground and maybe even send some good vibes to both our local contractor and the new construction team. At the end of the day, we just want what’s best for our beautiful Myrtle Beach community!