Former lumberyard will be site of new Sharpsburg public works facility
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The site of a former Sharpsburg lumberyard will house the borough’s new public works facility.
The nearly $700,000 price tag brings a long-needed upgrade and significant safety improvements over the current site, Mayor Matt Rudzki said.
The new location, a vacant lot at 19th and Chapman streets, sits just a few blocks from the existing site and will consolidate a handful of buildings which are beyond their useful life into one structure, Rudzki said.
Councilman Greg Domian said he’s looking forward to a more efficient facility.
“The drawings show a really nice looking building that will replace an empty lot,” he said.
Graham Construction was awarded the contract. Grading has begun and crews are preparing for utility installation. Parking may be restricted during work.
The move to the new home was spurred by the borough’s sale of land for $850,000 to Riverfront 47 in 2019.
The borough purchased the new lot for $200,000. It is the one-time home of the expansive Z&L Lumber Company that burned to the ground in a massive 1970 blaze.
The fire destroyed six buildings and damaged eight homes nearby.
Currently, the public works facility houses seven buildings of all ages, sizes and conditions, as well as a salt shed that will be moved to the new location, Rudzki said.
“The new facility will make the road crew’s tasks a little easier and aid them in better serving our borough and residents,” he said.