Developer Tommy Spinosa will have to come up with an additional $90,000 or so to guarantee completion of a library branch at Rouzan if he wants to continue working on the project. At least, that’s the opinion of the parish attorney representing the library board in its negotiations with Spinosa over the construction of the long-awaited library at the TND off Perkins Road, near the intersection of Glasgow Avenue. Last month, the board deferred a decision on whether to continue working with Spinosa, who donated land in the middle of the 120-acre development for the library and has committed to doing the necessary infrastructure work so that the library board can build a new Southdowns branch. Some board members, wary over Spinosa’s problems at Perkins Rowe, questioned whether the $209,000 performance bond he secured was adequate to guarantee completion of the dirt, drainage and concrete work at the site. Parish Attorney Leo D’Aubin says after engineers for the parish and Spinosa’s contractor met, he believes “$300,000 would be a reasonable estimate for construction of the ‘bonded infrastructure.’ As this is more than the amount of the bond, we are working with [Spinosa] concerning the excess amount.” In a written reply, Spinosa tells Daily Report he is working with the parish attorney and is “confident that we will reach a mutually satisfactory solution.” Whether that means he will post the higher bond is unclear. However, sources familiar with the negotiations say both sides are anxious to make the deal work and that they anticipate a positive resolution. —Stephanie Riegel
Today’s poll question: Are you confident the library branch planned at Rouzan will eventually come to fruition?
