Bids due for Titusville demolition

"I so want this done,"
– Missy Wescat, owner of Missy's Arcade.

Nick Kaczmark of the Lycoming Supply Company photographs the outside of the building. Kaczmark lives in Ohio but works for the Williamsport-based company.

An unsure beginning of the day for around eight regional demolition contractors ended with a closer look at an unoccupied Titusville building destroyed by fire in 2018. At 9 a.m. Monday, several contractors, some coming from Ohio and upstate New York, stood around wondering where the redevelopment authority was to let them in to tour the Diamond Street building. Finally, Bert Klapec of Oil City, sitting in his truck, gave the authority a call.

A mix-up in communication was cleared up and within a few minutes, Chevy Biltz of the Titusville Redevelopment Authority was there with keys.

For safety reasons a full tour of the building couldn't be done, but Biltz was able to let the contractors see the collapsed roof and get a better understanding of the shared wall between two buildings - a wall that needs to stay or be rebuilt as part of the contract.

The wreckage of the top floor shows the debris from the collapsed roof.

"I so want this done," said Missy Wescat, owner of the shared wall and the Missy's Arcade Restaurant next door to the blighted building. "You kinda relive it every day you have to look at it," she said staring at the building.
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On February 15, 2018, a fire broke out in the mostly vacant building. Dave's Old Fashioned Haircuts and a new furniture restoration business were lost. Missy's sustained major water damage causing the business to shut down for four months for renovations.

Standing on the third floor of the adjacent building above Missy's Arcade, Chevy Biltz of the redevelopment authority discuss some aspects of the building with the contractors who visited to take a tour.

On Monday the next phase began with demolition contractors having a closer look, taking several photos and jotting down notes they will use to come up with a figure to present to the authority before May 13. Bilz told the contractors his understanding, because of the Community Block Grant guidelines for this demolition, that the area has become green space.
The bids will be opened in a virtual public meeting, according to bid package.

"It will shut me down again," Wescat said indicating that she was just getting back on her feet again. Laurie Baker, the executive director of the Titusville Community Development Agencies agrees. She said she hope the work will be started as soon as possible after the bids are opened and awarded in the middle of May. "We are thinking the project will take at least 60 days, if not longer," she said. She said Missy's is likely the only business that will be affected.

"I guess the way to look at this is, life has a way of slowing you down. But in the long run it is going to be awesome to have this done."

Dana Purpura of Durable Demolition from Lockport, New York photographs the back of the building. The lot Purpura is standing in will be allowed to be used during the demolition, Laurie Baker, executive director of the Titusville Community Development Agencies, said there are likely to be road closures or lane restrictions, but dates and times for those aren't known yet. She said communication with PennDOT will begin when they learn more about the timetables.

NOTE: A version of the story will also appear in the Tuesday April 28 edition of The Titusville Herald.