Morning Headlines: Conshohocken Development Stalled Again

No demolition approved for the long vacant Verizon building.

Screenshot via Google Street View

Screenshot via Google Street View

It’s been almost seven years since the Borough of Conshohocken purchased the 60,000-square-foot, three-story Verizon building on Fayette Street, but getting redevelopment of the property off the ground has not been easy.

Last week the Borough Council postponed the award of a demolition contract after concerns about a low bid from one of the four bidders, Neuber Demolition & Environmental Services, which made a “less than ideal offer” of $414,950, according to the Times Herald’s Carl Rotenberg.

The demolition is for the lower level of the Verizon building to make way for more parking, while the rest of the property will have its facade renovated and get a new roof and building systems. A rain garden is also planned for the premises. Once that’s done, spaces will be available for offices, the police department, and a retail office.

The plan for Fayette Street has grown beyond the single Verizon property into a four-building project with an additional office building, a hotel and a parking garage.

From the Times Herald:

Savona said it was likely the bid would be awarded at the May 21 council meeting after technical questions were resolved. That award date would allow the asbestos remediation and demolition work to be completed by the end of August. The demolition work, estimated to take 90 days, will leave the steel structure and concrete floor decks intact.

Conshohocken council postpones demolition award for Verizon building [Times Herald]

In other news…

Parking Lot Out, Homes Coming on 3rd Street [Naked Philly]

Greenway in the works for Mantua’s northern border [PlanPhilly]

A Last Look at Second Baptist Church [Hidden City]

Bucks building comes up for auction [Philadelphia Business Journal]