Milwaukee Public Schools to Rebids Lincoln Avenue School Demolition After Local Firm Appeal

Milwaukee Public Schools will restart the bidding process for the demolition of Lincoln Avenue School next week. The district made the announcement on Thursday, November 5, following an official appeal by the local construction firm MRD Group. The school was destroyed by a fire in June, and city officials determined in July that the structure required demolition.

The original contract was awarded to TW Chicago for approximately $4.8 million. MRD Group, based in Milwaukee, submitted a bid of $928,000 for the same work. Marcus Dumke of MRD Group stated that the company’s logistical proximity to the site made their lower cost reasonable. He noted that the firm is located just 10 minutes from the job site.

Dumke said the company reacted with surprise when it saw the final contract amount. “We just saw that single contract page for the total number, and that’s when we said, ‘Hold on a second. This is not an almost $5 million dollar job,’” Dumke said. He added that the published documents indicated the scope of work was strictly demolition and abatement as described in the request for proposal.

MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius addressed the price difference by pointing to insurance coverage. She explained that the insurance company negotiated a rate of $4.7 million to cover the cost, meaning the expense would not be a direct loss to the district. Cassellius emphasized that the higher price reflected the complexity of managing hazardous materials to ensure the safety of the immediate community.

“The reason that it is more expensive, though, is because we want to be sure that the immediate community is safe from the potential environmental hazards,” Cassellius said. She noted that the district has maintained 24-hour security around the building and regularly waters the site to keep dust down.

When asked if the initial process was fair, Cassellius referred the question to the district’s Office of Accountability and Efficiency. The new bidding cycle begins next week, with MPS aiming to select a contractor by the first week of December. Demolition is expected to begin after the contract is signed and finish by the end of March.

Dumke said the appeal process provided relief but did not guarantee a win for his firm. “It’s going out for rebid, and that doesn’t mean we’re entitled to win it in this next round,” he said. The company will prepare a new bid response once the updated proposal request is released.