Demolitions of residential or commercial structures are rare in Bridgeport. Having one of each to be done at, or near, the same time is rarer.
However, such will be the case this summer as the City of Bridgeport has started the process to demolish a Main Street business building as well as a home. Legal advertisements seeking contractors to do the work began in April.
The commercial structure is situated at 244 West Main Street at the intersection of Virginia Avenue. The residential structure is located on 426 Water Street. The process to seek a contractor to do the work came following environmental assessments of both properties.
“There were no findings of asbestos in the buildings,” said City Engineer Beth Fox. “They are good to go under normal conditions.”
Reclaim Company managed the testing. Reclaim is based out of Fairmont.
The commercial building is a familiar one. It was most recently home to Mike Kelley Appliance Repair and has been home to several businesses over the decades including a car wash, convenience store, and a Getty Gas Station, among others.
The building, acquired with a total of cost of approximately $350,000, sits on a .45-acre lot. A future use has not been determined, but city officials have eyed the property for years as it serves as the gateway to the old downtown area of Bridgeport.
As for the other property, it was recently received by the city as a “charitable donation.” It consists of two parcels of land on Water Street, one of which has the residence on it. Last month, Bridgeport Community Development Director Andrea Kerr said the property on the land is a problem.
That led to the city meeting with the property owner regarding its condition as the house needed to be demolished, she said. During the discussions, an option was presented where the owner agreed to donate the property to the city due to the cost of demolition.
The next step involves receiving, and opening, the bids. Kerry said the city will receive bids until May 22 at 10 a.m. at the Bridgeport Municipal Complex. The bids will be read aloud after that time and a review of the low bid will be done to make sure it complies with requirements.
“If everything checks out with the required documentation, the city will issue a notice to proceed,” said Kerr. “The contractor then has 60 days to complete both demolition projects.”
Editor's Note: Top photo shows a past demolition of a Main Street structure, while the bottom photo shows some of the wear on the former Mike Kelley Appliance building that will be coming down soon.
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