Published: July 09, 2008 11:10 pm      

City awards bids for building’s demolition

A Johnstown eyesore soon will disappear to make way for a long-planned redevelopment project.

City Council on Wednesday awarded a $74,327 bid to a Lycoming County company to demolish the former Olbum’s building on Adams Street.

The project is expected to begin later this month or in early August, City Manager Curt Davis said.

He added that the level of hazardous asbestos in the vacant structure is “minimal,” which likely kept the cost of the job relatively low.

Johnstown lawyer D.C. Nokes has said he will take possession of the Olbum’s property when demolition is complete.

Nokes, who owns an adjoining building that houses his law office and four other tenants, plans to expand his office space on the Olbum’s property. He also will add more parking for customers.

In other city news Wednesday, Davis said a state-mandated project in the Coopersdale neighborhood will cost Johnstown a lot less than originally anticipated.

Officials learned in April that the city must move a “siphon” that carries sewage under the Conemaugh River to accommodate PennDOT’s replacement of the Coopersdale Bridge.

The bridge work is set to begin next year.

Davis initially feared the siphon job could drain $140,000 from city coffers, since Johnstown apparently was liable for half of an anticipated $280,000 price.

But he now says extra money from PennDOT and the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority will significantly soften that blow.

“I think it’s going to end up costing us $8,000,” Davis said.