Plum should have more than enough money for old borough building demolition, bids show

Plum is expecting its old borough building to be torn down by the end of the year as it continues to work on redevelopment plans for the site.

The borough received six bids for the demolition, which were opened Thursday. Council may award a contract during its meeting Monday.

Bids ranged from a low of $64,890 from Massarelli Excavating & Demolition to $149,000 from BJC Enterprises.

In addition to tearing down the former borough building at 4575 New Texas Road, which the borough moved out of almost two years ago, the project includes tearing down the old emergency medical services and public works buildings and a salt shed, all on the same property.

The borough has a $250,000 grant from the state to pay for the demolition.

The borough hopes to have the buildings down by the end of the year, with the work taking a few weeks to complete, Plum Manager David Soboslay said.

“We’d like it not to drag on,” he said.

Asbestos, which usually holds up the demolition of commercial buildings, will not be an issue.

“As part of our due diligence, we did an asbestos study,” Soboslay said. “The asbestos areas were identified and remediated. That’s one less thing that has to happen here.”

The borough allowed volunteer firefighters to use the building for training ahead of its demolition.

Councilwoman Vicky Roessler asked what will happen with flagpoles at the site. Soboslay said the borough owns them, and they will be set aside for the borough to address at a later date.

In addition to the roughly 8.2-acre parcel where the former borough building and other buildings sit, the borough owns a vacant 1.5-acre lot at New Texas and Leechburg roads, as well as a long, narrow strip on the other side of the main parcel that is about 2.8 acres.

The neighboring Plum Borough Municipal Authority building is a separate parcel and not included in plans.

Soboslay said the borough has been having ongoing meetings with developers who have expressed interest in working with the borough on redeveloping the area. The borough has applied for a $300,000 grant to prepare the land for development.

The borough also will hire HRG Engineering to conduct a “highest and best use” study of the property, Soboslay said. At a cost of less than $10,000, it will include looking at what traffic improvements may be needed there.

The proposed VOPP Trail, a cycling and walking trail through Verona, Oakmont, Penn Hills and Plum, would pass near the location. Soboslay said connecting the trail to the property would be considered so trail users could patronize future businesses.