When will Joe Root’s, Sandbar, other former West Eighth Street businesses be demolished?

Former West Eighth Street businesses owned by the Millcreek Township General Authority could be demolished soon.

“We’re putting the final touches now on the demolition bid package. It should be out very soon,” authority Executive Director Matt Waldinger said Tuesday.

Bids will be sought for the demolition of the former Joe Root’s Grill, Sandbar Draft House & Grille and Manor Motel as well as the motel strip of the former Bel-Aire Hotel.

In preparation for demolition, asbestos is being removed from the Joe Root’s building. Asbestos must be removed before the buildings are torn down, Waldinger said.

The former Joe Root’s Grill is shown in this 2021 photo.

Asbestos at the Sandbar will be removed next. Removal at the Manor Motel will be part of the demolition process since asbestos there is in the building’s exterior siding, Waldinger said.

The authority is not seeking bids to demolish the former Grasshopper shop or the main portion of the hotel. An architect will be hired to evaluate the properties before any decision is made on their future, Waldinger said in August.

The Millcreek Township General Authority bought the West Eighth Street properties in January for a combined price of $7.17 million. It plans to offer them for redevelopment in line with township plans to revitalize the Presque Isle Gateway District along West Eighth Street and Peninsula Drive.

Leading planning for the project will be Altair Consulting Group. The authority on Tuesday approved a two-year contract with the firm at an annual cost of $34,000.

Former Millcreek Township Supervisor Sue Weber objected to the contract award.

“You’re giving the contract to Altair without giving anyone else the opportunity to bid on such services or offer proposals. It doesn’t seem right to me,” Weber said.

Others are equally or better qualified, including Erie developer Greg Rubino, who submitted a proposal to the authority to lead the planning, Weber said.

Altair has been working on the project since its inception, Waldinger said, and also wrote the application for the $3 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant awarded to Millcreek Township for other West Eighth Street improvements

“They’ve been with us from the beginning of the project and helped us develop it to the point where it is now,” Waldinger said. “I do feel Altair is the best fit and has the best expertise and knowledge to take us forward to next steps.”

Authority member and Millcreek Township Supervisor Jim Bock questioned whether planning services are needed.

“I’m not convinced any services by anybody are really needed for the overall scope of what we’re doing there,” Bock said. “I understand the reasoning behind it, but I’m just not comfortable with the expense.”

The cost for Altair services could increase to as much as $100,000 annually if the company’s responsibilities for the project are increased.

“There would be an additional price for them doing public engagement for instance, or developer engagement if we bring developers to town to look at the site,” Waldinger said.

All work by consultants will be determined by the authority, Chairman Dave Zimmer said.

“If we don’t feel there’s anything we need, we have no obligation whatsoever. There needs to be a specific work order” before consultants do any work on the project, Zimmer said.

Authority members voted 4-1 to award the contract to Altair, with Bock dissenting.

Which ones will be razed? Millcreek authority to demolish some West Eighth Street buildings

Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Millcreek to seek bids to demolish West Eighth Street properties