Following is a press release posted Thursday on the City of Wildwood’s website:
WILDWOOD, NJ – Reconstruction will resume on Wildwood’s historic and famed boardwalk. The Honorable Michael J. Blee, A.J.S.C. decided in favor of the City of Wildwood, Fred M. Schiavone Construction, Inc., and four Wildwood businesses: The Boardwalk Special Improvement District Management Corp., the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement & Development Authority, the Morey Organization, Inc., and 2701 Associates, LLC.
Phase III Boardwalk Reconstruction began on October 9, 2023, from Schellenger Avenue to Spencer Avenue. L. Feriozzi Concrete Company filed a motion on October 11, 2023, and a temporary restraint was ordered October 16, 2023. Arguments were heard in the Superior Court of New Jersey Cape May County Law Division on November 1, 2023.
The judge’s decision:
· Dissolved the temporary restraints which stopped work on the project;
· Denied Feriozzi’s request to temporarily and permanently stop work on the project;
· Denied Feriozzi’s request to rescind the contract;
· Denied Feriozzi’s request to compel the City to award the contract to Feriozzi.
The chief complaint was that the project included structural steelwork which required Schiavone to name a subcontractor. However, Schiavone will be performing the structural
steel work themselves, which negates the need to name a subcontractor. Further, Schiavone performed the exact same structural steel work for Phase II of the 2022 Boardwalk Rehabilitation project.
Deputy Mayor Fitzsimons stated:
We are happy with the court’s judgement because we knew that this administration conducted a fair bidding process and had faith in the contractor Schiavone Construction. I would also like to extend my deepest appreciation to The Boardwalk Special Improvement District Management Corp., the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement & Development Authority, the Morey Organization, Inc., and 2701 Associates, LLC. for their strong support and intervention in helping to bring a positive outcome to this case.
This is the third phase of a multi-phase project that began in the fall of 2021 made possible by grants from the State of New Jersey and USDA, to name a few. The total investment is $30 million to $40 million broken up into five major phases:
I. Oak to Maple
II. Maple to 26th
III. Schellenger* to Spencer
IV. Spencer to Montgomery
V. Cedar and Schellenger to Oak
*The Schellenger section was previously replaced under a different budget and plan.
The goal in each phase is to have the renovations completed in time to open the Boardwalk for each summer season which typically kicks off each Easter weekend.
