Avenue Building Ticketed for Demolition

LOCK HAVEN – A Schuylkill County company is the low bidder for demolition of Lock Haven’s fire-gutted Heilig-Meyers building on Bellefonte Avenue.

City manager Greg Wilson told city council Monday night that bids were opened earlier in the day and ADM Logistics of Port Carbon submitted the lowest of six bids in the amount of $67,499. The city had budgeted $150,000 for razing the property at 37-41 Bellefonte Avenue. Wilson said if everything proceeds according to schedule the site, damaged in a December 2016 early morning fire, could be cleared and filled by the end of March or early April.

The contract was not awarded Monday night as Wilson said the city needs a “release and indemnification agreement” with owner David Mayes. Once that is received, Wilson said, a special council meeting will be called to award the demolition bid. He said that could occur as early as later this week.

It is likely the city will have to incur the costs of leveling the structure and place a lien on the property for the costs involved. At the time of the fire more than 13 months ago, city fire chief Bob Neff called the building a total loss; a cause was never determined. Some 20 fire companies from three counties responded to the fire in subfreezing temperatures at 6:33 a.m. Friday, Dec. 16, 2016