Commissioners award demolition contracts for abandoned structures in Harrison

Harrison will keep a township contractor busy not only with demolishing structures but doing some building work, as well.

Township commissioners awarded two contracts to Ron Gillette Inc. and expanded another.

The commissioners approved a contract for Gillette to tear down a number of abandoned, blighted structures in the Natrona section of Harrison. Gillette came in with a low bid of $62,484 to win the contract.

Financing for the work comes from the 2020 Safe Neighborhood Demolitions Program through the Allegheny Valley North Council of Governments aimed at getting rid of dangerous, blighted structures.

Township Manager Rich Hill said the buildings to be torn down under the contract include 70 Chestnut St.; 1263, 1267 and 1292 Eighth Ave.; and 47, 76 and 79 Pine St.

The commissioners also ratified a proposal submitted by Gillette to demolish a building at 4 Vine St. for $9,128.

According to Hill, the Vine Street work is more or less an extension of a demolition Gillette had been doing under a previous contract paid for with township funds. He said it became an emergency situation when a neighbor complained about bricks falling from the building.

“They could fall on Vine Street, so we figured we’d better tear that down now,” Hill said.

The previous contract included demolitions of three buildings on Blue Ridge Avenue and Federal Street, he said.

Tearing down buildings isn’t the only thing Gillette will be doing in the township.

Commissioners also approved Gillette as the low bidder to construct sidewalk ramps. It bid a price of $28,920 to do the work.

Hill said the locations where ramps will be built include the northwest corner of the Liberty Avenue and Freeport Road intersection; the northeast and northwest corners of Fairmount Street and Freeport Road; the northwest and southwest corners of Dallas Avenue and Freeport Road; and the northwest and southwest corners of Lilac Street and Freeport Road.

Construction of the ramps is also being funded with a grant through the Allegheny Valley North COG.