Value engineering considers alternatives to the current, common, generic, standard specifications to find better means of meeting project requirements. Besides considering less common engineering options, value engineering analysis may be done to optimize less common criteria. For example, rather than plotting a residential road in such a way as to minimize the cost of building the road as is commonly done, the road may be routed to maximize property values, perhaps by avoiding large, valuable trees and by providing more lots with better views. Depending on the terrain, the cost increase may not be as great as expected since a more scenic route may involve less drainage and earthwork costs by skirting hills and valleys rather than cutting and filling straight through them. This kind of give-and-take is common in value engineering analysis and the process results in choosing the best design for each project.

Although we did not reevaluate the street routing proposed for this project at this time, JD Consruction Management is prepared to do so if the City would like to consider this. We did identify some other significant opportunities for value engineering and outline these below.

The relatively sparse population density and somewhat hilly terrain of the Old Milwaukee subdivision, along with the location of existing wastewater collection lines combine to raise the cost of installing conventional wastewater collection lines to over $14,000 per house. This totals over $2 million, almost 10% of cost of the entire project.

The majority of this cost is for digging fairly deep trenches in many places to ensure adequate wastewater flow, and the usual alternative of installing lift stations would only increase costs further for the 140 families living here. Although individual septic systems would cost less than one-fifth of wastewater collection ($2500/house), these are assumed to be unsuitable for this development.

A decentralized wastewater treatment system could be engineered specifically for this subdivision, at a cost of $5,140 for each house including the professional wastewater engineering design fee. This would be a 65% cost savings over the proposed conventional wastewater collection, and has the added benefit of providing recycled water for irrigation. Although it would be up to the wastewater engineers to determine the best configuration, one possibility would be to collocate treatment units along the edges of the right-of-way with the utility sheds being built for every four houses. The recycled water produced by these treatment units could be set up to irrigate the adjacent curb area and create a tree-line boulevard to greatly enhance the character of the entire neighborhood.

JD Construction Management will coordinate the work needed to build Old Milwaukee into a safe, clean neighborhood.

Another neighborhood enhancement is to reconsider the roadway width. The standard Laredo 30' residential street width is intended to allow for on-street parking in more densely-populated subdivisions than this one. In Old Milwaukee, this code-specified width provides space for parking over 1000 vehicles on the streets, more than seven in front of each and every house. A less expensive and more practical means to provide on-street parking is to narrow the street and pave only 40' of parallel parking space adjacent to the street in front of each house. This provides space for at least two vehicles in addition to the three that can be parked on the driveway and apron at each house.

In addition to a safer street due to the traffic-calming effect of a narrower roadway, street paving costs will be cut by one-third, or almost three-quarters of a million dollars. Though this savings will be offset by $170,000 for paving and curbing the parking spaces, the net savings is over $500,000, more than $4000 for each house, and residents are likely to find the arrangement more pleasing than living on a 30' wide racetrack.

The resulting increase in curb area would be particularly attractive if it is lush, green, and planted with trees irrigated by recycled water as discussed above, and JD Construction Management will fit all these pieces together.

To improve the cohesion of the community and its street life, homes in this neighborhood may be placed closer to the street than the standard 50' setback. Doing so reduces infrastructure costs, both by minimizing the amount of site work necessary to build each house and by reducing the need for additional drainage provisions in the subdivision as a whole.

The cost savings here are more modest than other value-engineering analyses presented here, $100,000 in total to reduce the setback to 40', but when combined with the additional planting strip area on the curb as suggested above, may result in a more pleasing homesite layout. This is a case where the preferences of the future residents of Old Milwaukee should be considered. Will they prefer to maintain a larger front yard or would they rather be more engaged in the neighborhood?

The City represents the interests of its citizens, and JD Construction Management will be pleased to manage the construction of a neighborhood where people will enjoy raising their families.

JD Construction Management always finds better ways to provide the best value to our customers and the City of Laredo will get the maximum service from every dollar entrusted to our management team.