Tarentum awards 2 contracts to tear down 16 blighted buildings

Tarentum is on the verge of getting the vast majority of the borough’s blighted and abandoned buildings torn down, code enforcement Officer Anthony Bruni said.

Bruni said bids for 16 upcoming demolitions came in under budget, which he said could allow council to seek bids on more properties.

At its meeting Tuesday, council awarded two demolition contracts for the properties totaling $116,300. Eight companies submitted bids for each contract.

Allen Demolition of Wilkinsburg was not among the bidders. Allen had torn down 23 houses under a $171,000 contract awarded in November 2019. Work started in December 2019, and took longer than expected because of the covid-19 pandemic and the contractor having manpower and equipment problems.

Eveready Contracting of Washington Township submitted a low bid of $55,000 to tear down eight properties — 1320 Locust Way, 121 Conroy, 212 Bridge, 300 W. Sixth, 318 W. Seventh, 330 Heuser, 919 Porter and 1300 Bakerstown.

Eveready’s prices per property ranged from $6,000 for 1300 Bakerstown to $7,500 for 318 W. Seventh.

Siegel Excavating of Mahoning Township, Lawrence County, was the low bidder at $61,300 to tear down another eight properties — 134 Walters, 215 Bridge, 242 W. Eighth, 243-245 W. Seventh, 510 E. Second and 510 E. Second Rear, 1212 Locust, 108 W. Seventh, and 313 West Ninth.

Siegel’s prices ranged from $6,200 each for 134 Walters and 215 Bridge to $10,000 for 510 E. Second ($8,200) and 510 E. Second Rear ($1,800).

Bruni said the borough could give the contractors orders to proceed within a couple weeks, and work could start by the end of January.

“I’m looking forward to that,” he said.

The Allegheny Valley North Council of Governments is seeking bids for the demolition of seven other buildings in Tarentum. The bids are scheduled to be opened Jan. 11, Councilwoman Carrie Fox said.

Those properties are at 209-211 Conroy, 355 W. Seventh, 406 E. Ninth, 311 E. Eighth, 437 E. Seventh, 611 Roup and 543 E. Third.

A $60,000 federal grant is available to pay for that group of demolitions, said Tom Benecki, executive director of the Council of Governments.