By ARABELLA SERRATA
editor@sbnewspaper.com
Attorneys representing the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District (SBCISD) recently filed a lawsuit against Davila Construction Inc., Raba Kistner, Inc., and Brighton Group LLC for constitution issues at sites for the district.
The suit relates to sited stemming from a $40 million bond proposal allowing the district to build a performing arts center, aquatics center, and an indoor multipurpose athletic facility.
Brighton Group LLC was approved to provide project management services for the performing arts and aquatics center alongside on Dec. 18, 2018. Davila Construction was approved to provide construction manager at-risk services for the aquatics and performing arts center on Sept. 24, 2019.
According to documents available on the SBCISD website, the performing arts center was set to be located at 845 Eighth Street in San Benito. Schematics on the website show the center would have had two floors.
The first floor would have been 49,215 square feet, and the second floor would have been 16, 785 square feet, totaling about 66,000 square feet total. There would have also been a Natatorium approximately 20,384 square feet large, and an outdoor amphitheater. Several parking lots were planned around the building, with 633 spaces planned.
A past presentation from the website shows the indoor multipurpose athletic facility with a practice field, a lobby, restrooms, office and sports medicine rooms, and weight rooms. According to the presentation, the facility has a Certificate of Substantial Completion. The document deemed the building “sufficiently complete in accordance with the contract documents so the owner [SBCISD] can occupy or utilize the work for its intended use.” This certificate was dated March 16, 2021.
On Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, the district posted a statement on social media regarding the Performing Arts Center and Natatorium. “In parallel, we are also strategically exploring options for building a Natatorium and are committed to informing our stakeholders of all significant developments,” the post read. “Furthermore, the Board has authorized the filing of a lawsuit against parties identified as responsible for the construction issues at the current Performing Arts Center and Natatorium construction site, ensuring accountability in our projects.”
When asked for comments, district officials stated, “The San Benito Consolidated Independent School District currently has no comments regarding any pending litigation. Should there be any updates, the district will issue a news release that includes pertinent information related to the pending construction projects.”
Joseph Palacios, Brighton Group President, in published reports, denied the district’s claims in the suit, explaining that his company did not recommend that the district hire Davila Construction and that the hiring of Davila Construction was contingent upon the District reviewing proposals from various construction companies.