Demo work on 8 blighted East Deer buildings could start in December

Eight blighted buildings in East Deer will soon be torn down.

The township hired Lutterman Excavating of Salem Township for $93,100 to do the job.

The houses to be razed are at 911 Bellview St., 329 Crawford Run Road, 607-609 Edna St., 915 Freeport Road, 445 Marion St., 531 Marion St., 532 Marion St. and 121 Murrayhill Road.

Township Engineer Phil Herman said Lutterman hopes to start demolition work at the beginning of December, and should be completed around the beginning of February.

“They’re all ready to go,” Commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani said. “The legal aspect’s done and the asbestos survey is done already.”

East Deer is using a $100,000 state grant administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to pay for the work.

Township officials originally wanted to tear down 10 blighted properties, but said the grant couldn’t cover the cost of all 10 demolitions.

They decided to go with the eight properties they thought would have the greatest impact on improving the community.

“They were causing problems in neighborhoods that otherwise have well-maintained houses,” Taliani said. “The one on Crawford Run is between two houses, and both people really take care of their properties. The majority of properties on Marion Street are well taken care of. That’s why we’re taking them down.”

The remaining grant money will be used for costs related to the demolitions such as asbestos testing, engineering and advertising.

“The bottom line is, we’re going to exhaust the entire $100,000,” Taliani said.

Herman said East Deer will apply for a $34,000 Community Development Block Grant to tear down the remaining two buildings, at 168 Clarks Pike and 108 Meadow Ave., as well as an additional building at 454 Bailies Run Road.

The federal CDBG money usually covers a portion of a project’s cost, with municipalities responsible for paying a share. Should the grant be approved, the township would pay a share of $6,000.

“We hope that they will come down next year,” Taliani said of the remaining properties.