Getting the Bid

Thornton Backhoe Service removes old sidewalk.

Ever since construction began in March of 2010 citizens have wondered why local contractors were not being used for the project. We would like to take this opportunity to explain how our contractors were selected. Additionally, we would like to set the story straight. While limited, some local contractors and workers have contributed to the restoration of the Greenwood Hotel Complex.

So how were contractors selected? To answer this we have to go back to how the project is financed. Due to the nature of the ARRA grant dollars involved in the project, the Greenwood Preservation Society became responsible for following strict guidelines for soliciting contractors. Furthermore, contractors were not selected; they had to win the bid process.

The bids for the general contractors were submitted to our architect, Bill Morris by whom all the bids were determined to be “qualified”. The "qualified" part is to insure that the bidder is capable of doing the work required on a historic restoration project. At that point the contract was awarded to the lowest "qualified" bid; by Accel.

The general contractor is then responsible for hiring the subcontractors. For example, Thornton Backhoe Service was subcontracted to do some digging where the new sidewalk would be installed. As with the contracting procedures, there are also various requirements when soliciting subcontractors; things such as a requirement for multiple bids for work over a certain amount and following Davis-Bacon wage requirements.

As previously mentioned, our funding sources were the ultimate determinant on how the general contractor was selected. Local contractors had the same opportunity to submit their bid for the job. While the general contractor is not local, we would like to mention that the community is still benefiting greatly by having Accel performing their contract. While here they spend money in our community contributing to the retail sales tax and the transient guest tax for hotel rooms. They have done a phenomenal job on the complex and we appreciate their efforts in our community.

Funding Status

The Greenwood Preservation Society continues to raise funds locally, state wide and nationally to aid in the renovation of the Grand Princess of the Prairie.  The GWPS has been fortunate to obtain funding from a variety of sources. Using a base of cash donated by local residents and interested parties, the GWPS leveraged funds to obtain over $300,000 in Kansas Community Tax Credits through the Kansas Department of Commerce.  These funds were used as a matching source to obtain over $1 million from the Kansas Department of Transportation, Transportation Enhancement program. 

An additional grant through the Kansas Historical Society was obtained specifically for the basement. The Kansas Humanities Council is supplying funds to create a small museum area that will tout the transportation, cattle and oil industries that have been the economic and social backbone of Greenwood County and the Southern Flint Hills for decades.

Funds continue to be raised that will become an operating endowment fund to ensure there will always be money available to keep the Greenwood Hotel Complex in working order. If you want to know more about our operating endowment go to the Walk of Legends page on this blog. If you want even further information, please contact us at gwhotelmarketing@gmail.com and we will be happy to answer your question.

Additional funding sources will be obtained to finish upper floors of the building when our first phase of restoration is complete. If you would like to contribute to future phases of restoration please contact us today at 620-583-7271 and let us know how you would like to contribute.

In The Beginning

In October of 1883 the Greenwood Hotel was completed with 43 boarding rooms and 50 beds. Over the years she earned the name "The Grand Princess of the Prairie, Center of Everything". Built by The Eureka Hotel Company, a stock company consisting of prominent early settlers of the Eureka community the total cost of construction was $23,000.  The hotel was originally called "Hotel Greenwood" in honor of the county in which the hotel resided as well as the namesake of the county, Alfred B. Greenwood, who was noted for his work in Indian Affairs on reservations in Nebraska, Kansas and ‘the Indian Territories’ of Oklahoma. Commerce, horse drawn transportation and railroads were the main reasons the Eureka Hotel Company was founded. Eureka was a thriving metropolis.  The Greenwood Hotel is one of the oldest landmarks in Greenwood County.  In the Greenwood’s prominent years it is estimated that over $1,000,000,000 worth of cattle were traded in its lobby.  Million dollar oil deals were completed behind its walls.  It served Eureka, Greenwood County and the Flint Hills as the place to stay for over three-quarters of a century.

While the Greenwood Hotel currently is not offering a cozy place to stay for the night she has several new charms we are excited to tell you about. Stay tuned...follow along...as the "Grand Princess of the Prairie once again becomes the "Center of Everything".