Feb 14, 2008 By Patty Yauger 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – The Connellsville Redevelopment Authority moved Wednesday to push several projects from the planning stages to completion. The panel approved the expenditure of $9,980 to raze two blighted structures within the city limits, including a 911 Aetna St. single-family home owned by John W. Shultz and a 409 N. Pittsburgh St. apartment building owned by Mary Catherine Keefer.

The demolition project drew five bids from contracting firms ranging from $25,600 from Hilltop Excavating of Connellsville to the low bid from Rock Solid Demolition of Normalville that received board approval.

The structures will be razed with state funding set aside in the 2006 state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation to the city.

A road reconstruction project will likely get under way in late April or early May along Arch Street, between Crawford Avenue and Fairview Avenue and Grape Alley, between Pittsburgh Street and Meadow Lane.

The authority partnered with the city to seek bids for roadwork projects.

The city plans to repave Perry Street and Franklin Avenue with state Liquid Fuels subsidy.

Seven contracting firms submitted bids for the combined project, with Victor Paving of Monongahela providing the lowest amount for the work at $82,113.

The authority’s financial responsibility will total $33,219, and the city will pay $48,893 for its portion of the cost, according to Widmer Engineering Inc. engineer Glenn Wolfe.

“This should be the first job on their schedule,” he said.

In other matters, the authority also approved the hiring of L.F. Gilberti Architects Inc. of Pittsburgh to conduct a feasibility study of the West Washington Avenue National Guard Amory.

Nearly a year ago council voted to purchase the property from the state Department of General Service, but the sale was contingent upon the approval by the governor. The state House and Senate have approved the sale.

A former resident, Nancy Stafford, and the Connellsville VFW Post 21 have agreed to fund $40,000 of the $50,000 sale price.

Authority executive director Ralph Wombacker said that the feasibility study would include lead and asbestos testing and analysis along with mechanical, electrical, plumbing, heating, architectural and structural analysis for a cost not to exceed $4,995.

The firm has also been requested to offer an opinion as to the cost for any repairs to the site.

Wombacker said Mayor Judy Reed requested the study take place, as the city might be in a position to renegotiate the purchase price for the building.

The city set aside $100,000 in its 2007 CDBG allocation to help with the rehabilitation of the property.

The Pennsylvania Army National Guard vacated the early 1900-built site in 2005 and moved to its new facility in Connellsville Township. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

In other matters, the board:

– Learned that the city will receive $340,030 through the 2008 CDBG program. Wombacker said that $279,000 will be available for projects to be determined and $61,030 will be set aside to administer the council’s selected projects.

– Received official notification that a $150,000 state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant application was denied. The funding, if approved, was to be earmarked for the advancement of the Stewart’s Crossing project.