Tarentum awards 3rd contract for building demolitions, making 23 set to be razed

Tarentum Council has awarded a third contract for razing dilapidated buildings in the borough.

Including two contracts council awarded in January, a total of 23 blighted and abandoned buildings are slated to be torn down, at a total cost of $185,300.

Minniefield Demolition Services of West Mifflin bid $69,000 to tear down seven properties.

They’re at 209-211 Conroy Way, 355 W. Seventh Ave., 406 E. Ninth Ave., 311 E. Eighth Ave, 437 E. Seventh Ave., 543 Third Ave. and 611 Roup St.

The bids were received by the Allegheny Valley North Council of Governments. Five contractors submitted bids.

Minnifield recently was awarded a contract to tear down three houses in Harrison.

“They come highly recommended,” Tarentum code enforcement officer Anthony Bruni said of Minniefield. “They do a nice job.”

Minniefield’s bid was not the lowest. That came from Eveready Contracting of Washington Township, which bid $52,900.

But borough Manager Michael Nestico said the borough disqualified Eveready after the company said it made an error in its bid and the price was not accurate.

The earlier contracts

Of the other 16, Eveready submitted the low bid of $55,000 to tear down eight — 1320 Locust Alley, 121 Conroy Way, 212 Bridge St., 300 W. Sixth Ave., 318 W. Seventh Ave, 330 Heuser Way, 919 Porter St. and 1300 Bakerstown Road.

Siegel Excavating of Mahoning Township, Lawrence County, submitted the low bid of $61,300 to tear down the other eight — 134 Walters Alley, 215 Bridge St., 242 W. Eighth Ave., 243-245 W. Seventh Ave., 510 Second Ave. and 510 Second Ave. (rear), 1212 Locust Alley, 108 W. Seventh Ave., and 313 W. Ninth Ave.

Bruni said all three contractors have started the demolition process by applying for asbestos permits from Allegheny County and making state One Call notifications for utility shutoffs. Natural gas service has been shut off to the properties, and the borough disconnected electric and water services to all 23.

Demolition permits have been issued for all the properties, Bruni said.

A resident who lives next to 108 W. Seventh Ave. and is interested in buying it from the borough asked if a detached garage there could be left standing. Council President Scott Dadowski asked the resident to make the request in writing.

The resident said the property is worth something to him only if the garage, which he used previously, is left standing.

The garage is slated to be torn down along with the house to clear the parcel, across from Family Dollar, for development, Nestico said. The borough has owned the property since 2013, according to county records.

Bruni said the borough could pause that demolition, or have it done last, while council considers the request.