The Millcreek Township General Authority bought the properties in January with an aim toward revitalizing the Presque Isle Gateway District
Valerie MyersErie Times-News
The Millcreek Township General Authority is moving ahead with plans to demolish buildings on four properties that it owns on West Eighth Street near Peninsula Drive.
It's also authorized the removal of asbestos from two of the buildings before they come down.
A proposal to hire a consulting firm to help with planning to redevelop the properties was temporarily put on hold during the authority's monthly business meeting Tuesday.
The authority bought five properties in the Presque Isle Gateway District on West Eighth Street in January and plans to clear the land for redevelopment. The project is intended to revitalize the area near the entrance to Presque Isle State Park as a village-style, mixed residential and commercial community.
With sales finalized and buildings vacant, demolition can proceed.
Which buildings will be demolished first?
Authority members on Tuesday voted to seek bids for the demolition of the former Joe Root's Grill, Manor Motel, Sandbar Draft House & Grille and a motel wing of the Bel-Aire Hotel.
"These structures are eyesores and display many signs of disinvestment and disrepair," township planning and development Director Matt Waldinger said.
Before the Manor Motel and Sandbar come down, asbestos in the buildings will be removed and properly disposed of, Waldinger saId. Amark Environmental of Erie will do the work as early as this week for a combined cost of $22,970. The township expects to be reimbursed for the expense from Erie County Land Bank funding awarded for demolition.
The Bel-Air and Grasshopper properties
The fate of the Grasshopper shop and the bulk of the former hotel has not been decided, Waldinger said.
"The remainder, the large portion of the Bel-Aire property is still under evaluation ... to determine if it's salvageable," Waldinger said.
Former Millcreek Supervisor Sue Weber is among residents who contend that the hotel can be reused and should have been sold for private redevelopment after the lender foreclosed on the property and bought it at sheriff's sale in November, Weber said.
"But you went behind everyone's back and struck up a deal to buy it," Weber said.
The other properties also should have been sold for private redevelopment and not bought for more than their appraised value at taxpayers' expense, she said.
The authority paid just more than $6.2 million for the Bel-Aire, Joe Root's, Grasshopper shop and Manor Motel properties. Their combined appraised value was just under $4 million. The Sandbar was purchased for $962,500 with no appraisal.
The Grasshopper building should be reused because it is a part of Millcreek history, according to a number of township residents who say that the building was used as a schoolhouse as early as 1865.
"It seems as though Millcreek Township supervisors are attempting to give the township a sense of identity and pride. And what better way to do this than to listen to the citizens and use the building to showcase the township's history," resident Ann Silverthorn told authority members Tuesday.
The building could be used as an education and welcome center, Silverthorn said, to showcase Millcreek neighborhoods, schools and commerce as well as local history.
Authority members have said that they aren't convinced that the building has historical significance. An architect may be able to help settle the question, Waldinger said.
"I'm currently working to find an architect who can evaluate the building for its historic value and report to the authority," Waldinger said. "That building will not be touched or modified in any way until we've had the results of that and full discussion."
Authority tables decision on planning consultant
Action to hire Altair Real Estate Services to help plan the redevelopment of the West Eighth Street properties was tabled Tuesday. Authority members will revisit the proposal in September.
The company previously represented the authority in obtaining the properties.
Waldinger has recommended that the company be hired to coordinate planning, to identify potential funding for the project, to reach out to developers and to draft requests for proposals for professional services, among other tasks.
The cost to coordinate planning would be $36,000 payable in monthly installments. Cost for technical services would be up to $66,000, paid monthly based on work completed.
Authority members voted to table contract approval pending determination of whether there will be enough money in the authority's budget to cover the cost.
And several residents on Tuesday questioned if planning consultants are worth the expense and whether township staff might handle the work instead.
This past spring: What's happening with Millcreek property purchases on West Eighth near Presque Isle
What do Millcreek residents think? About West Eighth Street property purchases
Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.
