City Council last month authorized bid specifications for construction of the Hamilton Street amphitheater. The project is expected to break ground in September.

The governing body awarded a professional services contract of $116,860 for architectural consulting services to Farewell Mills Gatsch Architects of Princeton, which will prepare construction documents for the proposed amphitheater. Architects met with the Rahway Arts District committee and city engineer to put out construction plans, all of which are covered under soft costs in an earlier $3-million bond ordinance authorized by the council, according to City Administration and Redevelopment Director Peter Pelissier.

The Council also approved a $1.25-million bond ordinance for remediation of the former Hamilton Laundry site, with $900,000 coming from state Brownfield Development Area grants. The city will provide a down payment of $17,500 from its Capital Improvement Fund. The state state approved a remediation plan for the site and the soil will be dug up and remediated on site before construction begins, Pelissier said.