West View has completed the purchase of the third and final building that will be torn down to make way for the borough’s new municipal center.
At its July 8 meeting, council approved buying a six-unit apartment building at 400 Perry Highway for $585,000.
The purchase closed on July 2, borough Manager Bruce Fromlak said. Council had previously authorized spending up to that amount to buy the property.
“This completes the acquisition portion of the project and allows us to continue moving forward with demolition and the future municipal complex,” Fromlak said.
The borough had previously bought the former Scholl’s Bicycle Center at 649 Center Ave. for $535,000 and Grotto Bar & Grille at 403 Perry Highway for $205,000.
All of the buildings are near the West View Firemen’s Banquet Hall, which the borough plans to remodel to house its administrative and police offices. A new fire department garage will be built next to it.
The former bicycle center building has been torn down. Demolition of the Grotto was expected to start July 14.
Residents of the apartment building have until Aug. 1 to vacate the building, after which it will be demolished, Fromlak said.
All three buildings are being torn down by Deller Professional Services for a total of just under $335,000.
The borough was still working on revamping specifications for the new municipal center after its first attempt at seeking bids got only one, $12.6 million from Massaro, that was more than double the cost expected. Council rejected the bid in June.
While the new center will also become home for the borough’s fire department, the borough is looking to unload the former West View No. 2 station at 14 Amherst Ave.
The building is no longer needed, since the borough’s three fire departments merged five years ago, Fromlak said. The fire department is now based at 471 Perry Highway.
Sealed bids will be accepted at Fromlak’s office until 11 a.m. Sept. 8. Council meets the next day, Sept. 9.
The 4,400-square-foot property is residentially zoned. Its assessed value is $145,600, according to Allegheny County real estate records, which show it as being owned by West View since 1907.